However, the study you describe wouldn't get around the need to control for other factors statistically. This is because the decision to CCW could be linked with factors affect the risk of crime victimization. For example some people might choose to CCW specifically because they feel at risk. On the other hand, people who are wealthier and thus less likely to be crime victims might be more likely to CCW than poorer people, which would push the statistics in the other direction.

one which I agree with wholeheartedly. We actually agree on something, OMG, is the world coming to an end?
In all seriousness, you make some excellent points.

Civil discourse in the gungeon! Yay!

but, for the most part, we do keep it civil.

However, since much of the discussion is about LEGAL carry then it would have to be accepted the it is the wealthier among us that get CCWs. On the other hand, I and my wife have CHLs and our income is Social Security plus each of us has an $8.50/hour job, full time. That puts us far outside the 1%.

In any case, I was laying out the general idea for a study, not a detail proposal. I am very tired of studies about guns that conflate legal and illegal gun possession/carry.

We do need some reliable statistics on CCW.