Difference between buyers and those that carry. Someone who buys a gun is just a consumer of a product. Same thing with buying a permit (I don't know of any that are free). Someone who regularly carries a handgun concealed is doing more than just purchasing something. It involves a great deal more commitment to the idea. How many of those new buyers even bought a holster? I'm not knocking them. I'm glad more people got the notion to be gun owners. I'm not convinced they will contribute to the normalization of carry for a greater portion of the population.
Apparently you are unaware of vast portions of America where no permit is required to carry a gun, open or concealed.
Most traditional or conservative Americans have little use for socio-economic class distinctions. The belief is prevalent that your ancestry has little or nothing to do with who or what one is today. Hell, we recently had a poor black bastard grow up to be elected President.
From prior comments on this thread it seems many are as unaware of the meaning of your socio-economic terms as I am. So I will let you define my station in life.
At the culmination of my 45 year career, I now earn $25/hour. $52,000 per year for 2080 hours/year. Before taxes.
In 1985, I purchased 20 acres of ground for $8000. In 1994, I purchased a 1200 sq ft 3 bed, 2 bath home to put on that ground for $32,000.
Today the contents of the gunsafe is worth more than the cost of the home and land.
No one in my family had handguns. They had hunting rifles. It is a termination offense if caught on employers property with a weapon.
Yet at 50 years of age, I purchased my first handgun. Fifteen years later I own four 41 magnum revolvers, one of which is Titanium for carry.
I presently own four 327 revolvers, one of which is well suited for carrying in a belt holster, and another which is suited to pocket carry.
And a bolt action handgun, a 22lr revolver, and a new (to me) 1911 with three barrels for three different cartridges.
And all of my kids own and carry handguns today.
So you tell me where the fugg I fit on your spectrum of socio-economic classes.
And Travis, those are some beautiful revolvers. Mine are much more utilitarian.
