Self-Defense Gun Use is Rare, New VPC Study Confirms

[billh58]

Washington, DC — New research from the Violence Policy Center (VPC) confirms that contrary to what the firearms industry and gun lobby claim, private citizens rarely use guns to kill criminals or stop crimes.

The new study, Firearm Justifiable Homicides and Non-Fatal Self-Defense Gun Use, analyzes the most recent federal data available, which shows that private citizens use guns to harm themselves or others far more often than to kill in self-defense.

-Snip-

The study finds that in 2013, the most recent year for which data is available, there were only 211 justifiable homicides involving a private citizen using a firearm reported to the SHR. Twenty states reported zero justifiable homicides in 2013. That year, there were 7,838 criminal firearm homicides.

-Snip-

“Self-defense is the big lie that the firearms industry and gun lobby use to promote gun sales. The fact is that any gun is far more likely to be used in a homicide, suicide, or unintentional killing than in a justifiable homicide,” states VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann. “A gun is far more likely to be stolen than used in self-defense.”

http://www.vpc.org/press/self-defense-gun-use-is-rare-new-vpc-study-confirms/

Countering the right-wing gun lobby's Big Lies is a full time job, but well worth the effort. Support a gun control organization of your choice today and help to counter the lies and half-truths vomited out by the vile, anti-American ALEC/NRA "guns everywhere" propaganda machine.

[SunSeeker]

1. K & R

[StarTrombone]

2. I would much rather not need it and have it

Than not have it and need it

You do as you please, you're free to do so

[billh58]

3. Of course you would

you delicate flower you...

[braddy]

4. Guns have helped me a number of times, but I never reported it, or had to shoot someone.

I have even pretended to move a non-existent gun into my coat pocket before walking by what looked to be a group of guys who looked like muggers.

I have used that one a few times.

[billh58]

5. Well goody for you

Bubba... You can tell "muggers" by the way they look? Typical gun humper.

[braddy]

6. Do you force yourself to remain totally unaware and naive when you walk dangerous streets?

Or do you just make sure that you limit your life in a way to never be at risk?

[billh58]

7. Go run along and

play "boogeyman" with someone in the Gungeon Bubba. You're in the wrong Group.

[Demit]

8. Sounds like your non-existent gun works fine for you.

And you never need worry that it will go off inadvertently, or that a child will find it & shoot himself or someone else.

[doc03]

9. Well gee what does a mugger look like? Is it the way they dress or some physical charactoristic?

I would like a description so I can recognize them. Maybe it could be they were not actually muggers anyway
and you didn't need you make believe gun.