having embraced donald trump for the presidency, the national rifle association is planning a major push to nationalize its <u+201c>concealed carry<u+201d> campaign, which has already enabled millions of citizens to go armed into public places in the name of self-defense. republican lawmakers, ever enthusiastic about the gun lobby<u+2019>s agenda, will control both houses of congress next year when mr. trump assumes the presidency. his campaign celebrated the n.r.a.<u+2019>s fantasy that citizens can stand up to gunmen by shooting it out. research refutes this idea; it is far more likely that guns are used to harm the owners or other innocent people than to stop a crime. there were eight million americans with concealed-carry permits in 2012, according to federal data. that number has been growing rapidly with the gun lobby<u+2019>s success in loosening state restrictions, making it possible for permit holders to pack guns in university classes and many public venues. the n.r.a. goal in the trump administration is to pass an expansive national law that would require states to recognize concealed-carry permits issued by other states. varying republican proposals in congress range from focusing on a special permit applicable in all states to a broad mandate that would force states with tight restrictions to accept a visitor<u+2019>s right to carry a weapon, even if that person came from a state with lax permit standards or no permit requirement at all. concealed-carry laws have helped to create a booming market for the gun industry. this was clear in the shopping spree after thanksgiving , when there were a record 185,713 gun sales processed on black friday alone by the federal background check agency. the allure of customized small pistols (<u+201c>what color do you want?<u+201d>) can make them seem bling-like as a fashion accessory. but since 2007, concealed-carry permit holders have been responsible for at least 898 deaths not involving self-defense, according to the violence policy center, a gun safety group. this includes 29 mass shootings by permit holders who killed 139 people. separate research has found that despite the overwhelming number of guns in america, they are very rarely used in self-defense or to stop crimes. the self-defense myth of concealed carry nevertheless carries on, at the expense of public safety. follow the new york times opinion section on facebook and twitter (@nytopinion), and sign up for the opinion today newsletter . a version of this editorial appears in print on december 1, 2016, on page a30 of the new york edition with the headline: if concealed-carry laws go national. today's paper | subscribe
the threat to public safety if <u+2018>concealed carry<u+2019> goes national
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