As of Dec, 31, 2008, the number of individuals with active licenses to carry a concealed handgun in Texas totaled 314,574, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Web site. That does not include the people allowed to carry a rifle or shotgun, for which Texas does not require a license.
Why is 314,574 a significant number? It could also be the number of handguns stored on company parking lots across Texas, if the state Legislature passes the proposed guns-at-work law. With the thorny issues surrounding firearms, supporters and opponents of the proposed law could bill the legislation as one of two extremes, borrowing from modern cinema: “The Peacemaker” or “There Will Be Blood.”
