Key Takeaways
- CPRC analysis shows DGUs outnumber gun murders 20-60 times yearly
- Kleck: DGUs prevent 2.5M crimes vs 875k gun crimes annually (1990s)
- NCVS: DGUs 100k/year vs 400k gun victimizations
- A 1995 telephone survey by Gary Kleck and Marc Gertz estimated 2.1 to 2.5 million defensive gun uses (DGUs) annually in the US, with 81.9% involving no shots fired by defender
- The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) from 1987-1992 reported approximately 83,000 DGUs per year where victims used a gun to defend against crime
- Kleck's 2001 update maintained the 2.5 million annual DGU estimate, noting 15.6% of DGUs result in criminal shots fired
- FBI UCR supplementary homicide reports (SHR) 2019 show 374 justifiable homicides by civilians
- CDC NVDRS 2020 recorded 581 defensive gun deaths across 32 states
- Texas DPS 1987-2022 cumulative 1,500+ civilian justifiable homicides
- Atlanta PD 2021: 34 DGUs confirmed
- Florida's annual DGU reports from 1987-2022 show average 1,200 justified interventions yearly
- Texas DPS 2022 concealed carry report documented 678 DGUs where permit holders defended against crime
- Utah BCI 2021 report recorded 456 defensive uses by concealed carriers
- Kleck study found 82% of DGUs stopped crimes without firing a shot
- NCVS data shows in 71% of DGUs, offender fled upon seeing gun
Most research finds defensive gun uses far outnumber gun murders and victimizations every year.
Comparative Analyses
Comparative Analyses Interpretation
National Level Estimates
National Level Estimates Interpretation
Police and Court Records
Police and Court Records Interpretation
Police and Local Reports
Police and Local Reports Interpretation
State and Local Reports
State and Local Reports Interpretation
Survey-Based Studies
Survey-Based Studies Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Defensive Gun Use Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/defensive-gun-use-statistics
Lukas Bauer. "Defensive Gun Use Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/defensive-gun-use-statistics.
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Defensive Gun Use Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/defensive-gun-use-statistics.
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