A survey of 5,000 households found that over a five-year period, 3.5 percent of household members used guns to protect their families or their property. That’s 1 million incidents annually. The Clinton Justice Department identified 1.5 million cases per year of citizens using guns to defend themselves.
Another survey found Americans use guns to deter home break-ins about 500,000 times annually. Armed citizens shoot criminals more than twice as often as do police each year (1,527 to 606). Each year, about 200,000 women use guns to defend themselves. The Carter Justice Department found that, of more than 32,000 attempted rapes, 32 percent were actually committed. But when a woman was armed, only 3 percent succeeded. Newer studies indicate Americans use guns 2.5 million times annually to defend themselves from violent criminals. Guns save lives. Gun control endangers lives.
Robert Wassman
Vancouver
