Concealed weapon permit applications in Texas have risen 40% over the past year, spurring economic growth. Further proof that guns are good.

…the department is paying overtime and hiring temporary workers to reduce the backlog. Mange said she doesn’t know why applications last month were 39 percent higher than they were in April 2007.

But Ross Bransford, who trains 1,000 Texans a year to qualify for a concealed handgun license, said he believes the looming 2008 election is a big factor.

“People are not sure what’s going to happen after the election,” said Bransford, who owns Austin-based CHL-Texas.com. “Both Democratic candidates are anti-gun in one fashion or another.”

He said Sen. Barack Obama, who is leading the race for the nomination, is a “friend of (Democratic Senator) Ted Kennedy, and that scares everybody to death.“

Hullo!

Of course, the anti-gun crowd just doesn’t understand:

Marsha McCartney, who represents the North Texas Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said she was surprised to learn that so many more Texans are applying to carry guns.

Yes, wanting the ability to protect oneself *is* perplexing. [sigh]