Guns used in Self defense

[Beendare]

Here is the latest stats on guns used in self defense at the Ammo.com website, article; "Defensive gun use statistics" at LINK

I still think it's under reported. When someone brandishes a firearm to repel an attacker those cases rarely get reported.

Still, it's a legit argument to counter the gun takeaways.

 

[Beendare]

Excerpts with some Footnote gobbledegook;

DGU estimates vary depending on source and methodology. Studies and surveys between 1990 and 2023 consistently suggest there are between 60,000 and 2.5 million DGUs annually (18-750 uses per 100,000 people).<a href="https://ammo.com/research/defensive-gun-use-statistics#source-7" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" data-uw-original-href="#source-7">7</a>

A survey-based study published in JAMA Network Open in March, 2025 estimated 489,000 annual DGUs in which a firearm was discharged. These incidents included a defender firing at and/or in the vicinity of a perceived threat.<a href="https://ammo.com/research/defensive-gun-use-statistics#source-1" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" data-uw-original-href="#source-1">1</a>

Self-reported survey data suggest that an average of 750 people per 100,000 deter or stop a criminal with a firearm annually.<a href="https://ammo.com/research/defensive-gun-use-statistics#source-16" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" data-uw-original-href="#source-16">16</a>

Crime-based reporting studies suggest that between 18 to 30 people per 100,000 stop a threat and report it to the police annually. These data do not include all DGUs because they are based on reported crimes, and a DGU indicates that a crime was thwarted.<a href="https://ammo.com/research/defensive-gun-use-statistics#source-3" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" data-uw-original-href="#source-3">3</a>

Polls and self-reporting surveys over the past thirty years range from 1.4 million to 4.3 million DGUs annually. These polls and surveys include respondents' grabbing a firearm due to a perceived threat. These sources include incidents of brandishing, displaying, verbally warning with a gun in hand, or firing a weapon at a potential threat.<a href="https://ammo.com/research/defensive-gun-use-statistics#source-18" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" data-uw-original-href="#source-18">18</a>

The Gun Violence Archive (GVA) reported 18,414 DGUs (1,534.5 on average per year) between 2014 and 2025. This database uses more than 7,000 publications to identify incidents in which a shot was fired defensively and reported to the police and news outlets.<a href="https://ammo.com/research/defensive-gun-use-statistics#source-6" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" data-uw-original-href="#source-6">6</a>, <a href="https://ammo.com/research/defensive-gun-use-statistics#source-15" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" data-uw-original-href="#source-15">15</a>

 

[jesco88]

Still, it's a legit argument to counter the gun takeaways.

This is the only argument that should be needed.

 

[B Harrison]

Two Christmas’s ago, I had to use my sidearm.
Big charging dog, 10’ or less full run at my wife.

2 125 HSTs at 5’ from a 357 sig
No exit, shoulder shots, DRT, as if the dog had been hit with a magnum rifle.

It was a hard thing to get over, but I’m glad I was prepared, or I would have been fighting that dog with a knife, and taking my wife to the ER.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Beendare]

Two Christmas’s ago, I had to use my sidearm.
Big charging dog, 10’ or less full run at my wife.

And you reported that to the police and it got logged into the database right? Likely not.

Thats my point. So many of these cases never get added to any database/Stats.
I have only had one case where showing the pistol got the crooks on the run.

The "What does anyone need a gun for" crowd tries to say this rarely happens and there are no need for guns to defend yourself. It happens a lot more than is ever reported.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Two Christmas’s ago, I had to use my sidearm.
Big charging dog, 10’ or less full run at my wife.

2 125 HSTs at 5’ from a 357 sig
No exit, shoulder shots, DRT, as if the dog had been hit with a magnum rifle.

Dang! That would be scary. The main reason I carry is for a potential dog attack on my kids or golden retriever.