White Middle- Aged Men Take Advantage of New Virginia Gun Law

Of the 4,854 applicants for a concealed weapons permit in Northern Virginia in February, 91 percent were men, almost 97 percent were white, and a majority were between the ages of 39 and 50. Only 84 of the applications were rejected due to lack of handgun safety certification or felony charges. Opponents of the law which took effect last summer favor an amendment which would allow judges more discretion to deny permits in other cases.