Detroit: With police chief's blessing more residents carry guns

Detroit's northwest side
last month

Detroit has notoriously long response times for 911 calls. Its police chief, James Craig, suggested that Detroiters arm themselves.

And they are.

From Fox News:

The chief's call to arms, which first came in December, 2013, has been answered by thousands of men and women tired of being victims and eager to reclaim their beleaguered city. In 2014, some new 1,169 handgun permits were issued, while 8,102 guns were registered with Detroit's police department - many to prior permit holders who bought new firearms. So for in 2015, nearly 500 permits have issued by the department and more than 5,000 guns have been registered.

"There's definitely been a 'Chief Craig' effect," Rick Ector, a firearms instructor who runs the blog Legally Armed in Detroit. "His support and endorsement has been helpful."

Obtaining a concealed-carry permit in the state of Michigan is not difficult compared to states with stricter gun laws. Eligible citizens can meet the state's training requirement in eight hours, and firearms academies and gun shops within the city offer one-day courses for as little as $99.

Ector said that he and other instructors have seen a steady rise in locals looking to get a permit, to protect themselves either on the street or in their homes. While data showing a relation between increased gun ownership and the crime rate is not available, Ector said legally armed residents are having an effect.

From my post at Da Tech Guy:

I walked its streets--the tragedy of Detroit.