Guns in America: For every criminal killed in self-defense, 34 innocent people die

[Rob L 3,811]

I don't think those stats exist. I wish they did. In this article that you posted, there is a good chance that there would have been at least an additional 258 deaths if those individuals were not armed.

the Article points to this study, which in turn points to FBI stats. The FBI stats show that 0.8% of violent crimes were responded to with a firearm

http://www.vpc.org/studies/justifiable15.pdf

ESTIMATES ON SELF-DEFENSE USE OF FIREARMS FROM THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY Hemenway notes, and numerous others agree, that the most accurate survey of self-defense gun use is the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The survey has been ongoing since 1973.10 VIOLENT CRIME According to the NCVS, looking at the total number of self-protective behaviors undertaken by victims of both attempted and completed violent crime for the fiveyear period 2007 through 2011, in only 0.8 percent of these instances had the intended victim in resistance to a criminal “threatened or attacked with a firearm.”11 As detailed in the chart on the next page, for the five-year period 2007 through 2011, the NCVS estimates that there were 29,618,300 victims of attempted or completed violent crime. During this same five-year period, only 235,700 of the self-protective behaviors involved a firearm. Of this number, it is not known what type of firearm was used or whether it was fired or not. The number may also include off-duty law enforcement officers who use their firearms in self-defense.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

the Article points to this study, which in turn points to FBI stats. The FBI stats show that 0.8% of violent crimes were responded to with a firearm

http://www.vpc.org/studies/justifiable15.pdf

ESTIMATES ON SELF-DEFENSE USE OF FIREARMS FROM THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY Hemenway notes, and numerous others agree, that the most accurate survey of self-defense gun use is the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The survey has been ongoing since 1973.10 VIOLENT CRIME According to the NCVS, looking at the total number of self-protective behaviors undertaken by victims of both attempted and completed violent crime for the fiveyear period 2007 through 2011, in only 0.8 percent of these instances had the intended victim in resistance to a criminal “threatened or attacked with a firearm.”11 As detailed in the chart on the next page, for the five-year period 2007 through 2011, the NCVS estimates that there were 29,618,300 victims of attempted or completed violent crime. During this same five-year period, only 235,700 of the self-protective behaviors involved a firearm. Of this number, it is not known what type of firearm was used or whether it was fired or not. The number may also include off-duty law enforcement officers who use their firearms in self-defense.

But that still doesn't really answer the question. This shows that firearms are only used as self defense in a small portion of violent crimes, which I think is a known given. 99.2% of violent crime victims don't have guns according to this info. We need the stats on the the 235,700. Bad guy with gun vs unarmed victim rarely favors the victim.

[Dave-n-Oksana 49]

the Article points to this study, which in turn points to FBI stats. The FBI stats show that 0.8% of violent crimes were responded to with a firearm

http://www.vpc.org/studies/justifiable15.pdf

ESTIMATES ON SELF-DEFENSE USE OF FIREARMS FROM THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY Hemenway notes, and numerous others agree, that the most accurate survey of self-defense gun use is the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The survey has been ongoing since 1973.10 VIOLENT CRIME According to the NCVS, looking at the total number of self-protective behaviors undertaken by victims of both attempted and completed violent crime for the fiveyear period 2007 through 2011, in only 0.8 percent of these instances had the intended victim in resistance to a criminal “threatened or attacked with a firearm.”11 As detailed in the chart on the next page, for the five-year period 2007 through 2011, the NCVS estimates that there were 29,618,300 victims of attempted or completed violent crime. During this same five-year period, only 235,700 of the self-protective behaviors involved a firearm. Of this number, it is not known what type of firearm was used or whether it was fired or not. The number may also include off-duty law enforcement officers who use their firearms in self-defense.

The problem with that statement is that it is only in "reported" incidences. We do not know how many incidents are not reported because the assailant was detered and the intended victim did not report it for one reason or another. Not including this information in making an argument against gun ownership is equivalent to a 1 sided coin.

Edited June 19, 2015 by Dave-n-Oksana

[spookyturtle 9,465]

The problem with that statement is that it is only in "reported" incidences. We do not know how many incidents are not reported because the assailant was detered and the intended victim did not report it for one reason or another. Not including this information in making an argument against gun ownership is equivalent to a 1 sided coin.

Good point, but I don't doubt that guns are only used in defense in a small proportion of crimes. The bad guys are the ones that have a gun the majority of the time.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Of course it does. In real life, one lives safer without a gun in the house. That's just a simple fact.

If you keep saying it, it may come true.

[Rob L 3,811]

The problem with that statement is that it is only in "reported" incidences. We do not know how many incidents are not reported because the assailant was detered and the intended victim did not report it for one reason or another. Not including this information in making an argument against gun ownership is equivalent to a 1 sided coin.

Not sure about the 1 side coin analogy. You would need 50 % of violent incidents to go unreported to make that work.

What percentage of victims never report assault or attempted assault? ( I think we are talking about crimes by strangers) I know that it is not Zero especially in the case of rape but for robbery , assault?

I think If I had an encounter involving someone attempting harm to me or my family, I would certainly feel obligated to report it even If I did manage the situation myself.

[Sousuke 1,214]

Of course it does. In real life, one lives safer without a gun in the house. That's just a simple fact.

How is say, my black powder revolver making my life less safe in my house?

edit. Btw I am out of black powder...

Edited June 19, 2015 by Sousuke

[Expat1 971]

The FBI, local police departments, SWAT teams, and secret service should demonstrate how much safer America would be by simply turning in, piling up, and destroying their guns.

This would take thousands of openly carried guns off the streets.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

But that still doesn't really answer the question. This shows that firearms are only used as self defense in a small portion of violent crimes, which I think is a known given. 99.2% of violent crime victims don't have guns according to this info. We need the stats on the the 235,700. Bad guy with gun vs unarmed victim rarely favors the victim.

Not to mention the many many thousands of times an armed citizen prevented a robbery, rape, assault, in which no one was killed. A blind moron could see how these stats are skewed

[decocker 7,198]

The FBI, local police departments, SWAT teams, and secret service should demonstrate how much safer America would be by simply turning in, piling up, and destroying their guns.

This would take thousands of openly carried guns off the streets.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If you keep saying it, it may come true.

It's been shown. Your ignoring it won't make the fact go away. Sorry.

[lostinblue 1,989]

The FBI, local police departments, SWAT teams, and secret service should demonstrate how much safer America would be by simply turning in, piling up, and destroying their guns.

This would take thousands of openly carried guns off the streets.

we are seeing that in Baltimore these days ... Police pull back and there is far less killings this month.... right ?

[Boiler 45,516]

Electricity kills people. so it would be much safer to not have electricity in a house.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Not to mention the many many thousands of times an armed citizen prevented a robbery, rape, assault, in which no one was killed. A blind moron could see how these stats are skewed

Unless you are talking about in the history of mankind, you are making a baseless assumption due to the fact that you buy into the delusion of the fear mongering gun lobby.

The facts say a gun in the home makes you less safe. You are free to think the opposite and be wrong. This is 'Merka!

[spookyturtle 9,465]

It's been shown. Your ignoring it won't make the fact go away. Sorry.

You have the agenda, I don't. You're not the least bit open minded or rational on the gun issue. You don't like them so no one should have them. I'm a drunk and drink and drive. I think they should take your car away.