Guns and Self-Defense by Gary Kleck, Ph.D.

Pulpless.com ^ | 1997 | Gary Kleck

[marktwain]

At least 12 national and 3 state-wide surveys have asked probability samples of the general adult population about defensive gun use. The surveys differ in many important respects. The two most sophisticated national surveys are the National Self-Defense Survey done by Marc Gertz and myself in 1995 and a smaller scale survey done by the Police Foundation in 1996.

The National Self-Defense Survey was the first survey specifically designed to estimate the frequency of defensive gun uses. It asked all respondents about both their own uses and those of other household members, inquired about all gun types, excluded uses against animals or connected with occupational duties, and limited recall periods to one and five years. Equally importantly, it established, with detailed questioning, whether persons claiming a defensive gun use had actually confronted an adversary (as distinct from, say, merely investigating a suspicious noise in the backyard), actually used their guns in some way, such as, at minimum, threatening their adversaries (as distinct from merely owning or carrying a gun for defensive reasons), and had done so in connection with what they regarded as a specific crime being committed against them.

The National Self-Defense Survey indicated that there were 2.5 million incidents of defensive gun use per year in the U.S. during the 1988-1993 period. This is probably a conservative estimate, for two reasons. First, cases of respondents intentionally withholding reports of genuine defensive-gun uses were probably more common than cases of respondents reporting incidents that did not occur or that were not genuinely defensive. Second, the survey covered only adults age 18 and older, thereby excluding all defensive gun uses involving adolescents, the age group most likely to suffer a violent victimization.

[marktwain]

This essay by criminologist Gary Kleck is a must read reference for anyone involved in the citizen disarmament (gun control) debate. While it is a bit dated, as crime rates have been cut in half since it was written, 80 million more firearms have been added to the civilian American stockpile, and concealed carry permits have likely tripled or quadrupled, it is still highly informative and useful. The above excerpt gives a decent taste of the meat involve. The entire essay should be read by anyone involved in the debate who is interested in facts and logic.

[marktwain]

involve should be involved.

[Springfield Reformer]

Ping for reference. Thanks.

[wmileo]

As a current member of the NRA these numbers are consistent with the numbers for today in the United State.

AS a parent I wish they would teach gun safety in schools rather than nonsense like cultural diversity and how to place a condom on to a cucumber.

[VRW Conspirator]

AS a parent I wish they would teach gun safety in schools rather than nonsense like cultural diversity and how to place a condom on to a cucumber.

My father, RIP, told me that in the 1930's he carried his 22 rifle to school where the NRA taught him how to shoot, FWIW.

[Scrambler Bob]

M4l

[moovova]

saved for later