- In 1995 a study in The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology estimated that Americans used guns to defend themselves 2.1 million to 2.5 million times a year.
What is wrong with the survey however, (along with the possibility of false positives/ negatives) is that "defending" ones self isn't defined all that well. What if I shoot someone after a robbing a bank, (I'm not really a bank robber) is that defense? Or if I a drug deal goes bad and on guy shoots another to prevent being shoot like the article says. Coupled with the possibility of lying to promote their agenda I'm not sure these surveys are the most accurate. Thus is the way of gun politics however, two sides looking at similar data and attaining vastly different results, Guns don't kill people, people kill people; while another side says something completely different. That's my problem with these surveys anyway, personal beliefs get in the way of facts and truth.