Since the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for Americans to legally carry concealed weapons in public spaces two years ago, the number of concealed carry permit holders in the city of Los Angeles has skyrocketed.
According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), before the May 2022 decision, there were only four active permits given out to people in the city.
Today, there are more than 1,700 active permits, a more than 42,000% increase. Thousands of applicants remain on the waitlist and the number continues to grow.
You’ll find the highest concentration of concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit holders in the west San Fernando Valley, near Granada Hills, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, and Sylmar. On the west side are neighborhoods like Pico Robertson and Brentwood. There’s also a high concentration in San Pedro, according to data obtained from the LAPD by L.A. TACO through a records request.
The data shows that neighborhoods in South L.A., central, and northeast Los Angeles currently have the lowest concentrations of permit holders.