Concealed carry increases in Washington

From the Evergreen State:

The number of concealed pistol licenses (CPLs) issued to Washington state residents shot up 44% between 2003 and 2007, according to statistics from the state’s Department of Licensing, with the Evergreen State now boasting more than 258,000 citizens who can carry concealed.

That does not include a number of people who are involved in the open carry movement who do not require a license to carry their hardware. Washington is one of a handful of states with a very active and gradually growing open carry cadre, and open carry has always been legal in the state, with at least two appeals court rulings upholding the practice.

Article here.