Quote Originally Posted by Kentriv View Post
3) I live in Arizona (the wild west if you will), and I can say that the majority of people do not carry guns on their person. I have lived here my whole life and have only known/seen maybe a total of ten people who carried a gun on a regular basis. It is not common at all, though I can't tell you an actually percentage.
As you know, I also live in Arizona, having moved here 15-years ago. I live in the Phoenix metro area (Phoenix being the 5th largest city in the US).

Most of the people I've seen openly carrying weapons here were working in the tourist industry (eg, waitresses at "cowboy restaurants", tour guides, etc.). Yes, a few had an outdoors job that might require one to deal with snakes or varmints, and a few were probably just doing the macho thing... but most just wear them openly to give the tourists a thrill. I'd guess I see someone with an open carry weapon at least once a month.

However, Arizona is one of 43 states that issues concealed carry permits. Matt, I think you'd be very surprised at the number of concealed weapons being carried in Arizona... the last stat I saw for CCW permits was 84000 (Nov 2006)... and something like 43% of those are women. Now granted, everyone with a permit doesn't necessarily carry one, but you'd be surprised what granny has in her handbag and what that guy you just flipped-off in traffic has under his seat.