As gun control is a very controversial topic that leads to debates on whether it should be legalized or not, the idea that we would not be able to defend ourselves, if the need arose, is a horrible nightmare and almost a terrible reality. Legalizing gun control will only add to the suffering caused to our country by the many cases that have occurred in the past and recently. The state of Florida was one of the first states to allow conceal and carry laws. The law required that the applicant be at least 21 years old, have no criminal record, no criminal record of drug or alcohol abuse, no history of mental illness, and complete a safety course in firearms handling provided by the NRA. The permit must be renewed every three years. The permit is valid statewide. (Snyder p. 49) » The State of Florida shows that from 1987 to June 1993, 160,823 permits were issued and only 530, or about 0.33 percent of applicants, were denied permits for non- meeting the criteria, which indicates that the law benefits those it was intended to benefit” (Snyder