NCJ Number
111708
Journal
Combat Handguns Dated: (August 1988) Pages: 40-42
Date Published
1988
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article presents data on 3,480 incidents in which a civilian used a gun for defense against an assailant.
Abstract
The data were obtained from the 'Armed Civilian' feature in 341 issues of 'The American Rifleman' magazine between September 1958 and December 1987. Data pertain to the sex of the armed citizen, incident location, firearms used, and the fate of the assailants. Seventy-nine percent of those who used a gun for self-protection were men, and 21 percent were women. Forty-nine percent of the incidents were at a place of business, 39 percent were in the home, and 12 percent were on the street. Handguns were used in 78 percent of the incidents, shotguns in 14 percent, and rifles in 8 percent. Assailants were apprehended in 34 percent of the incidents, fled in 25 percent of the cases, were wounded in 22 percent of the attacks, and were killed in 19 percent of the encounters. The article compares these findings with those in a study by Gary Kleck, noting how the wording of the survey question can dramatically affect the findings on civilians' use of guns for self-protection. A review of the geographical location of the incidents from the 'Armed Citizen' analysis suggests that civilians inclined toward using guns for self-protection are proportionately represented in all States. 2 tables and 4 graphs.