CDC Study Confirms Over 2 Million Defensive Handgun Uses Anually

Indiana Joe

Member
Location
Indiana, USA
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com...ms-2-million-defensive-handgun-uses-annually/

Just a small part of the article.
Unpublished CDC Study Confirms More than 2
Million Defensive Handgun Uses Annually About The Author Unpublished
CDC Study Confirms More than 2 Million Defensive Handgun Uses Annually

An unpublished Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study
confirms Florida State University criminologist Gary Kleck’s findings
of more than two million defensive handgun uses (DGUs) per year.
==================================================
How many articles have you read claiming that figures for self-defense use with a gun by an intended victim were negligible?
It's one of the anti-gun groups favorite lies.
 

How many articles have you read claiming that figures for self-defense use with a gun by an intended victim were negligible?
It's one of the anti-gun groups favorite lies.
You seem to be fixated on gun worship. Maybe you've never been in the military and been deprived of the 'thrill' of using weapons in a life threatening situation. I see such people like that all the time on gun forums. Of course, that frame of mind lends itself to the paranoia that "they" are lying to you...shrugs.gif
 
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com...ms-2-million-defensive-handgun-uses-annually/

Just a small part of the article.
Unpublished CDC Study Confirms More than 2
Million Defensive Handgun Uses Annually About The Author Unpublished
CDC Study Confirms More than 2 Million Defensive Handgun Uses Annually

An unpublished Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study
confirms Florida State University criminologist Gary Kleck’s findings
of more than two million defensive handgun uses (DGUs) per year.
==================================================
How many articles have you read claiming that figures for self-defense use with a gun by an intended victim were negligible?
It's one of the anti-gun groups favorite lies.
Thanks for sharing.
 

What exactly is a defensive gun act? Defensive gun use (DGU) is the use or presentation of a firearm for self-defense, defense of others or, in some cases, protecting property.
Well, that clears matters up. So I guess if I hear a noise and get my gun out, but it's the cat -that counts? There are multiple legal and non legal definitions of a DGU. Plus data is voluntary and self reporting. So if anyone has an agenda...........
There is one statistic that is a hard fact- a dead body. The smallest percentage of gun related deaths are intruder shootings. In fact a total 21 dead There were 45,222 gun related deaths in 2021. So, if gun owners are fending of supposedly 2,5 to 3 million felons a year. They are showing remarkable restraint. BTW there were 377 unintentional shootings by children in 2021.
 
Last edited:
What exactly is a defensive gun act? Defensive gun use (DGU) is the use or presentation of a firearm for self-defense, defense of others or, in some cases, protecting property.
Well, that clears matters up. So I guess if I hear a noise and get my gun out, but it's the cat -that counts? There are multiple legal and non legal definitions of a DGU. Plus data is voluntary and self reporting. So if anyone has an agenda...........
There is one statistic that is a hard fact- a dead body. The smallest percentage of gun related deaths are intruder shootings. In fact a total 21 dead There were 45,222 gun related deaths in 2021. So, if gun owners are fending of supposedly 2,5 to 3 million felons a year. They are showing remarkable restraint. BTW there were 377 unintentional shootings by children in 2021.
Such data is easily modified to support whatever view or agenda is wanted.
 
Such data is easily modified to support whatever view or agenda is wanted.
Exactly. But no matter how one fudges statistics, if you shoot someone, it will either be yourself, or someone you know. Intruder shootings may be traumatic, but they are rare.
I think the NRA's concept of flooding the nation with weapons, so it will make a future governmental seizure of them an impossible task, is putting too many guns into incompetent hands. That could lead to very strict antigun legislation?
 
At one time, I enjoyed buying a gun at a show here and there and then one day, the thrill kind of went away and I sold the 9 or 10 handguns that I had bought. I kept my rifles. The 2 AR’s are fun to shoot at the range and the 12 gauge shotgun I shoot at a friend’s place where he owns about 10 acres of land. I had a Colt Python that I hated to part with. I bought it used and another guy made me an offer I couldn’t turn down. I doubt if anyone is going to take anyone’s guns away anytime soon. Some of the guns may be outlawed at some point, but there are millions of guns out there and trying round up all of them would be a difficult task.
 
Just heard on news....fine for "packing" gun in (carry-on)
luggage..& found..raised to $15,000.
Wow! who could be/would be S-O stupid!?!?!
 
Exactly. But no matter how one fudges statistics, if you shoot someone, it will either be yourself, or someone you know. Intruder shootings may be traumatic, but they are rare.
I think the NRA's concept of flooding the nation with weapons, so it will make a future governmental seizure of them an impossible task, is putting too many guns into incompetent hands. That could lead to very strict antigun legislation?
Such data is easily modified to support whatever view or agenda is wanted.
 
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com...ms-2-million-defensive-handgun-uses-annually/


How many articles have you read claiming that figures for self-defense use with a gun by an intended victim were negligible?
It's one of the anti-gun groups favorite lies.
Just as many (or more) espoused by the gun lovers. I'm not anti gun per se. When I worked in Corrections Health - which shared a building with the local police, a deputy who was friends with one of the other nurses used to take us down to the the police shooting range . We shot targets a couple of times a week and I even owned my own gun (a .22 - and still do - though I haven't used it in years). I enjoyed shooting at targets, but never wanted to kill anything.
However I see absolutely no reason why a civilian needs an AR-15 or similar weapon - or, for that matter, any military style weapon - and I don't think deadly weapons should be available to everyone unrestricted. I definitely think there should be background checks , etc.
 
Just as many (or more) espoused by the gun lovers. I'm not anti gun per se. When I worked in Corrections Health - which shared a building with the local police, a deputy who was friends with one of the other nurses used to take us down to the the police shooting range . We shot targets a couple of times a week and I even owned my own gun (a .22 - and still do - though I haven't used it in years). I enjoyed shooting at targets, but never wanted to kill anything.
However I see absolutely no reason why a civilian needs an AR-15 or similar weapon - or, for that matter, any military style weapon - and I don't think deadly weapons should be available to everyone unrestricted. I definitely think there should be background checks , etc.
No one in their right mind thinks everyone should be entitled to own a gun.
But as for AR-15's not needed by civilians, please tell us what other type of weapon would do in this situation with multiple attackers?
(note - each yellow marker is a round fired)
 
If anyone cares….the problem with the study was that it was flawed . The data provided by the cdc was not obtained from all states. Nor were the questions (apparently) so clear as to be certain of the answers. So when the numbers were extrapolated as if the results applied to the entire population across all fifty states…they were not reliable. Both sides of the issue were unhappy…and the study was removed. It stands to reason that persons in…say chicago….might own and use more guns than say salt lake city. Just sayin….
 
I wonder if anyone knows how many gun threads we have in the Forum?
🤯
Probably not, but I can confidently say too many...
If anyone cares….the problem with the study was that it was flawed . The data provided by the cdc was not obtained from all states. Nor were the questions (apparently) so clear as to be certain of the answers. So when the numbers were extrapolated as if the results applied to the entire population across all fifty states…they were not reliable. Both sides of the issue were unhappy…and the study was removed. It stands to reason that persons in…say chicago….might own and use more guns than say salt lake city. Just sayin….
You are right about why the CDC removed it. In one of the other gun threads @FastTrax posted a link to Wikipedia that does a pretty good job of explaining both sides. It is the Kleck and Gertz study. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensive_gun_use

Oh, and I'd bet Salt Lake could give Chicago a run for it's money on gun ownership and use rates... A higher % here however are for hunting.
 
Just as many (or more) espoused by the gun lovers. I'm not anti gun per se. When I worked in Corrections Health - which shared a building with the local police, a deputy who was friends with one of the other nurses used to take us down to the the police shooting range . We shot targets a couple of times a week and I even owned my own gun (a .22 - and still do - though I haven't used it in years). I enjoyed shooting at targets, but never wanted to kill anything.
However I see absolutely no reason why a civilian needs an AR-15 or similar weapon - or, for that matter, any military style weapon - and I don't think deadly weapons should be available to everyone unrestricted. I definitely think there should be background checks , etc.
The reason we want AR-15s and AKs is because the predators have them, and in much greater numbers than ever before.

Killing birds, animals, etc., with guns...don't even go there or i'll get banned with what I'll say about cowards who shoot animals and leave them to die in pain for hours. Oh...excuse me, I forgot...all those sicko hunters do one shot kills. Sure.
 
All of which sounds like excuses. What are the chances the average person will meet a "predator" - pretty darned low. Why do you suppose the "predators" have them in greater numbers in the first place? Could it possibly be because they are available in greater numbers and with fewer restrictions on obtaining them?
As for killing animals, most of it is not done because the shooters really need them for food; it's mostly done for "fun"! "I" never said anything about hunters "cowards who shoot animals and leave them to die in pain for hours". My comment referred to their killing at all.
I'm not against guns per se - I'm against the abuse and misuse of them
 
The following article concludes that the 2 million number is very difficult to confirm, and that the likelihood that a gun carrier will use it in defense of a crime is unlikely. On the other hand day to day possession of a gun presents a variety of dangers to the owner.
https://www.npr.org/2018/04/13/602143823/how-often-do-people-use-guns-in-self-defense

My dad had a 38 revolver and encountered a burglar. He had a “bead” on the burglar as he was climbing out a window, but didn’t shoot. A cop later told him he was very lucky he didn’t pull the trigger. If he had shot that bastard in the back he would have been in BIG trouble.

Personally I have chosen to live in low crime area, and steer clear of areas that could present a problem - like parts of San Francisco where turds litter the sidewalk and drugs are openly sold.
 
The following article concludes that the 2 million number is very difficult to confirm, and that the likelihood that a gun carrier will use it in defense of a crime is unlikely. On the other hand day to day possession of a gun presents a variety of dangers to the owner.
https://www.npr.org/2018/04/13/602143823/how-often-do-people-use-guns-in-self-defense

My dad had a 38 revolver and encountered a burglar. He had a “bead” on the burglar as he was climbing out a window, but didn’t shoot. A cop later told him he was very lucky he didn’t pull the trigger. If he had shot that bastard in the back he would have been in BIG trouble.

Personally I have chosen to live in low crime area, and steer clear of areas that could present a problem - like parts of San Francisco where turds litter the sidewalk and drugs are openly sold.
Your dad was wise. I've always told anyone who was thinking of owning a gun to learn the laws governing the use of deadly force so they don't end up in prison. In almost all states, shooting a fleeing burglar would get you in big trouble. Your valuables are not worth a life.
A gun is not for preventing theft; a gun is for preventing serious bodily injury or death. On 2 occasions, I have personally allowed a thief to flee with expensive gardening tools while holding my gun down at my side. If he charged at me, that would be a different story; I would shoot.
"Living in a low-crime area?" As I've said previously, I'm fortunate to live in a nice area with several celebrities as neighbors.
The house next door to me had a violent home invasion robbery - an elderly couple was hospitalized with serious injuries.
Up the hill from me, an elderly man was murdered with a hatchet while in his garage. A homeless man just walked up to him & killed him - totally at random. On one occasion, I watched a homeless-appearing person dump one of my trash cans. I didn't say anything. I thought about bringing him some food, but I considered it too risky.
 
Your dad was wise. I've always told anyone who was thinking of owning a gun to learn the laws governing the use of deadly force so they don't end up in prison. In almost all states, shooting a fleeing burglar would get you in big trouble. Your valuables are not worth a life.
40 years ago a neighbor came home to find a teenager piling up her possessions in a sheet on her living room floor. He bolted and ran out her front door. She gave chase shouting Stop Thief. A man was washing his car, looked up and said aw lady he‘s just a kid. Got away. Other than a guy who stabbed his girl friend, that’s about it for crime around here. I admit to owning a fairly wicked sword, but no guns. Inherited my dad‘s revolver, but gave it to a relative who is a retired cop. I have considered buying a gun, specifically a Stevens short barrel shotgun, but barring any crime in the neighborhood I think I will wait on that.
 


Back
Top