Title: Comparing the Incidence of Self-Defense Gun Use and Criminal Gun Use

Publication Date: June 2009

What does it say?

This fact sheet debunks the gun lobby claim that guns are used 5 times more often in self-defense than in crime.

The report explains the two different approaches used by surveys to estimate the number of self-defense gun uses compared with criminal gun uses: 1) ask everyone about gun use and 2) ask only those who first report that someone tried to commit a crime against them.

To arrive at its claim, the gun lobby makes a methodological error and compares statistics from one type of survey to the other.

The report shows that “the overwhelming evidence from both types of surveys is that guns used in the United States are used far more in crime than in self-defense.”

How can I use it?

Use this fact sheet to challenge the myth that guns keep us safer and that guns are used more often in self-defense than in crimes.

Citation

Hemenway, David and Mary Vriniotis, “Comparing the Incidence of Self-Defense Gun Use and Criminal Gun Use,” Bulletins, (Issue 3) Spring 2009

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