Concealed carry applications spike 600% in Philadelphia amid crime surge: 'People are scared'
Women in Philadelphia outpaced men in receiving concealed carry permits in 2021.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A former police firearm instructor who teaches Pennsylvanians the importance of safe gun use said he's experiencing an explosion in requests for lessons amid a nationwide surge in crime.
Brenda Adams, a Philadelphia resident, said the crime rates pushed her to pursue a permit.
"There’s more carjackings and murders going on in the city every day," she said on "Fox & Friends" Monday. "And I feel like I need to protect myself when I go out."
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Philadelphia State Police reported a 602% increase in concealed carry permits issued in 2021 compared to 2020, with 51% of those going to women.
While Lappe’s business, Terry’s Angels, caters primarily to women, he told host Ainsley Earhardt that anyone is welcome to attend.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lappe’s class teaches firearm safety as well as the basic proper functioning of a gun. He reported seeing registrations go "through the roof" over the past few years with a "vast majority" being women in the last year.
"Unfortunately, people are scared," he said.
"When you have crime that goes unchecked, you have a police department that is an incredible one, but stretched incredibly thin – they can't be everywhere at every time. People are scared, and they want to learn how to protect themselves."
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Lappe said his goal is to teach proper firearm use and build confidence among the women who may initially be intimidated.
Adams encouraged other women who are interested in pursuing a concealed carry permit to follow her lead by taking lessons and learning how to properly use a firearm before ever owning or firing a gun.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Philadelphia, PA, USA - November 25, 2021: A Philadelphia Police Department marked vehicle with its emergency light activated. (iStock) (iStock)
"When I found Terry, we did several hours of classroom time before we ever went down to the range," she said.
Adams again emphasized the importance of gun safety and proper use.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"There’s no more dangerous of a person than somebody that has a gun that doesn't even know how to shoot it," she said.