NCJ Number
162694
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 86 Issue: 1 Dated: (Fall 1995) Pages: 188-192
Date Published
1995
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This analysis of the research by Kleck and Gertz indicating that the use of a gun in defense against a criminal perpetrator concludes that the research is methodologically sound and that it is difficult to challenge the data indicating the about 2 million instances occur each year in which a gun was used as a defensive measure against crime.
Abstract
The National Crime Victim Survey does not directly contravene this latest survey, nor do the Mauser and Hart studies. The author's research on robbery has focused on three major variables: intimidation or threats; victim response, including resistance; and degrees of victim injury. It is not yet possible to examine the triangular interaction between resistance, or a lack of it; intimidation using a gun; and the degree of physical harm or its absence. Defensive gun usage, as reported in the Kleck and Gertz study, includes mostly robbery and burglary. Compared to homicide, these offenses involve little mutual combat. The author's "Patterns in Criminal Homicide" stands as solidly viable with respect to the offender-victim drama, the prior record of victims, and the victim-precipitated model. Although the Kleck and Gertz conclusion that having a gun can be useful is distasteful, their methodology is sound and they have done well in trying to meet all objections in advance. Footnotes