Packing heat: Washington cities with the most handgun licenses

Aug 25, 2014, 6:11 AM | Updated: 6:12 am

56% of Snohomish residents are licensed to carry a handgun.
Population: 9,275
Number of concealed pistol licenses: 5,219

55% of Port Orchard residents are licensed to carry a handgun.
Population: 11,680
Number of concealed pistol licenses: 6,523

51% of Gig Harbor residents are licensed to carry a handgun.
Population: 7,549
Number of concealed pistol licenses: 3,898

45% of Sequim residents are licensed to carry a handgun.
Population: 6,624
Number of concealed pistol licenses: 3,044

35% of Stanwood residents are licensed to carry a handgun.
Population: 6,422
Number of concealed pistol licenses: 2,261

34% of Shelton residents are licensed to carry a handgun.
Population: 9,800
Number of conceled pistol licenses: 3,359

34% of Yelm residents are licensed to carry a handgun.
Population: 7,121
Number of concealed pistol licenses: 2,436

33% of Chehalis residents are licensed to carry a handgun.
Population: 7,298
Number of concealed pistol licenses: 2,383

32% of Selah residents are licensed to carry a handgun.
Population: 7,333
Number of concealed pistol licenses: 2,375

25% of Puyallup residents are licensed to carry a handgun.
Population: 38,147
Number of concealed pistol licenses: 9,577

Two different initiatives on the ballot this November seek different outcomes on gun background checks. Before it’s time to vote on the issues, MyNorthwest.com wanted to find out which Washington cities had the most handgun licenses (concealed pistol licenses, or CPL) issued to their residents. The following are the top 10 cities for people who are legally permitted to own a handgun.

Information on the number of licenses per capita is based on the most recently available data, courtesy the Washington Department of Licensing, (2014.) Population information is based on the most recently available data from the United States Census Bureau (2012.)

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