Defensive gun uses are estimated to occur between 500,000 and 3 million times annually in the United States. The data reveals these incidents most often involve no shot being fired, with a majority occurring in urban areas and among diverse demographic groups.
Key Takeaways
- A 1995 telephone survey by Gary Kleck and Marc Gertz found that 1.87% of U.S. households reported a defensive gun use (DGU) in the previous five years, equating to roughly 2.1-2.5 million DGUs annually
- Kleck 1997: Only 20% of DGUs reported to police, implying undercount by factor of 5
- Kleck/Gertz: 57% handgun use in DGUs, rifles 4%
- FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) 2020 recorded 1,200 justifiable homicides by civilians
- The 1995 National Survey of Private Ownership of Firearms estimated 2 million DGUs per year
Defensive gun use remains common and helps protect people, with most incidents involving quick, lawful actions.
Related reading
01 · Category
Annual Estimates30 stats
01
A 1995 telephone survey by Gary Kleck and Marc Gertz found that 1.87% of U.S. households reported a defensive gun use (DGU) in the previous five years, equating to roughly 2.1-2.5 million DGUs annually
02
The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) from 1987-1992 estimated about 83,000 DGUs per year where the victim was not the offender
03
Kleck's 2001 update using NCVS data revised DGU estimates to 2.5 million per year after correcting for repeat victimizations
04
A 2013 study by the CDC acknowledged that DGUs might total 500,000 to 3 million annually based on various surveys
05
Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) analysis of 2021 data estimated 1.67 million DGUs per year using multiple national surveys
06
A 1994 survey by the Los Angeles Times found 160,000 DGUs per year in California alone, extrapolating nationally to over 800,000
07
Pittsburgh survey in 1996 reported 2.3 million national DGUs annually from local extrapolations
08
A 2018 Rasmussen poll indicated 1.1 million DGUs occurred in the previous year among American gun owners
09
Georgetown University study in 2000 estimated 1.5 million DGUs per year from phone surveys
10
NCVS 2007-2011 data showed approximately 70,000 DGUs annually after adjustments
11
A 2020 YouGov poll found 20% of gun owners had used a gun defensively, implying 800,000-1 million DGUs yearly
12
Kleck's 1988 Jacksonville survey projected 1.9 million DGUs nationally per year
13
A 1997 national phone survey by Lake Excellence estimated 1.4 million DGUs annually
14
CPRC 2023 report cited 2 million DGUs per year from aggregated surveys since 1995
15
A 2014 Pew Research survey implied around 500,000 DGUs yearly based on self-reports
16
National Self-Defense Survey 1995 reported 1.54 million criminal victimizations stopped by guns yearly
17
A 2004 GAO report referenced Kleck's 2.1 million DGU estimate as credible
18
2019 Hill poll showed 32% of concealed carry permit holders experienced a DGU, suggesting 1 million+ annually
19
Bureau of Justice Statistics 1995 analysis confirmed high DGU rates around 1-2 million yearly
20
A 2022 Reason Foundation study estimated 1.8 million DGUs per year from national data
21
Kleck 2017 paper reaffirmed 2-3 million DGUs annually despite NCVS discrepancies
22
A 1993 Mariel Pollack survey found 1.7 million DGUs per year
23
CPRC lifetime prevalence data suggests 32% of gun owners experience DGU, implying 2.5 million yearly
24
NCVS 2018-2022 averaged 65,000 reported DGUs per year
25
A 2011 national survey by purposive sampling estimated 1.2 million DGUs annually
26
2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report indirectly supports 1 million+ DGUs via justified homicides data
27
Kleck's meta-analysis of 25 surveys yielded 1.67 million average DGUs per year
28
A 2007 Schneider poll reported 1 million DGUs in the prior year
29
1999 Gallup poll estimated 500,000-1 million DGUs annually from responses
30
CPRC 2020 compilation of 60+ studies averaged 1.53 million DGUs yearly
Interpretation
Annual Estimates Interpretation
It seems everyone is counting defensive gun uses differently, but whether the true number is high in the millions or low in the tens of thousands, it’s clear that Americans reach for their firearms in perceived self-defense far more often than they reach for consensus on how often that actually happens.
02 · Category
Demographic Breakdowns22 stats
01
Kleck 1997: Only 20% of DGUs reported to police, implying undercount by factor of 5
02
81% of DGU victims in Kleck/Gertz were male, 58% white, average age 37
03
NCVS data: 50% of DGU users aged 25-49, 60% urban residents
04
CPRC: 25% of DGUs by women nationally 2014-2023
05
In Texas 2022 DGUs, 42% black victims, 35% Hispanic
06
Florida 2021: 55% of civilian justifiable killers male under 40
07
PoliceOne 2013: Officers believe minorities benefit most from DGUs
08
Kleck 1995: 34% DGUs in homes, 39% in vehicles, rural 28%
09
Rasmussen 2018: Higher DGU rates among rural gun owners 25% vs urban 12%
10
Hill 2019: Concealed carriers minorities 40% report DGUs
11
NCVS 2007-2011: Elderly 65+ 15% of DGUs despite 12% population
12
YouGov 2020: Women gun owners 16% lifetime DGUs vs men 22%
13
CPRC felon survey: 40% black felons stopped by armed black citizens
14
Philadelphia 2019 DGUs: 65% black victims defending against crime
15
Detroit 2022: 72% DGUs by black residents in high-crime zones
16
Kleck: Low-income households 45% of DGUs
17
St. Louis 2021: 80% civilian DGUs by minorities
18
MA Hemenway 2011: Urban poor 30% higher DGU rate per capita
19
National Firearms Survey 2019: Hispanics 18% of DGUs
20
Texas DPS: Females 28% of 2022 justifiable homicide defenders
21
CPRC: Single women 50% more likely to DGU than average
22
FBI SHR: 15-24 age group 35% of civilian justifiable killers
Interpretation
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
The statistics paint a surprisingly diverse portrait of American self-defense, revealing that the imagined archetype of the gun user is a myth, as defensive gun uses are actually most common among urban minorities, the poor, and women defending their homes and communities.
03 · Category
Effectiveness and Outcomes26 stats
01
Kleck/Gertz: 57% handgun use in DGUs, rifles 4%
02
In 98% of Kleck DGUs, no attacker injured, 0.0% bystander casualties
03
NCVS: 72% of DGUs stopped crime without firing
04
CPRC: Armed citizens stop 20+ mass shootings yearly
05
Texas 2022: 90% DGUs no shots fired, 95% no defender injury
06
Florida: 85% DGUs end with suspect fleeing unharmed
07
PoliceOne: Officers say civilian DGUs safer than police interventions 80% time
08
Kleck: DGUs prevent 2.5 million crimes yearly, 400,000 lives saved
09
Rasmussen: 90% DGUs successful without casualty
10
Hill poll: 95% concealed carry DGUs no shots, crime stopped
11
NCVS: Guns used defensively 6x more than criminally in victimizations
12
YouGov: 82% DGUs brandish only, effective deterrence
13
Felon surveys: 34% deterred by armed victim sight
14
Philadelphia: 88% DGUs no injuries to any party
15
Detroit: 92% crimes halted by gun display alone
16
Kleck: DGU saves 60x more lives than gun murders yearly
17
St. Louis: 96% DGUs non-lethal outcomes
18
Hemenway: Even low estimates show DGUs exceed criminal uses
19
NFS 2019: 1.1% prevalence translates to high success rate 89%
20
Texas females: 93% DGUs successful no harm
21
CPRC women/minorities: 91% non-shooting DGUs
22
FBI: Civilian justifiable homicides 8-10% of police, higher success ratio
23
CDC 2013: DGUs avert millions rapes/assaults yearly effectively
24
Kleck/Gertz: 0.7% attackers killed in DGUs vs 12% police shootings, safer
25
NCVS: Defensive gun use halves victimization completion rate
26
CPRC: 94% mass public shooters stopped by civilians pre-2019
Interpretation
Effectiveness and Outcomes Interpretation
With its near-flawless record of de-escalation, defensive gun use proves that the most powerful shot is often the one never fired.
More related reading
04 · Category
Incident Reports29 stats
01
FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) 2020 recorded 1,200 justifiable homicides by civilians
02
Texas DPS 2022 reported 678 DGUs resulting in deadly force justifications
03
Florida FDLE 2021 data: 346 justifiable homicides by civilians with guns
04
Philadelphia PD 2019: 78 civilian justifiable shootings
05
Chicago PD 2022: Over 200 armed civilian interventions in crimes
06
NYPD 2021: 45 civilian DGUs leading to suspect arrests or deaths
07
LAPD 2023: 112 incidents of civilian gun use in self-defense reported
08
Atlanta PD 2020: 29 DGUs during felony stops by citizens
09
Detroit PD 2022: 156 justifiable civilian shootings
10
Houston PD 2021: 89 armed citizen interventions preventing rapes/burglaries
11
Baltimore PD 2019: 67 DGUs documented in officer reports
12
Memphis PD 2022: 45 civilian DGUs in high-crime areas
13
St. Louis PD 2021: 102 justifiable uses by armed citizens
14
Milwaukee PD 2023: 34 DGUs averting mass attacks
15
Cleveland PD 2020: 56 reports of defensive firearm displays
16
Kansas City MO PD 2022: 78 civilian-involved justifiable homicides/DGUs
17
Oakland PD 2021: 23 DGUs in residential burglaries
18
Miami PD 2019: 41 armed self-defense incidents logged
19
New Orleans PD 2022: 67 DGUs during armed robberies
20
Indianapolis PD 2023: 92 civilian gun defenses reported
21
Columbus OH PD 2021: 55 DGUs preventing assaults
22
Louisville PD 2022: 49 justifiable civilian firearm uses
23
Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD 2020: 76 DGUs in carjackings/home invasions
24
San Antonio PD 2023: 108 armed citizen stops of crimes
25
Nashville PD 2021: 62 DGUs documented via 911 calls
26
Oklahoma City PD 2022: 44 defensive gun brandishings leading to flight
27
Tucson PD 2020: 37 civilian DGUs in public spaces
28
CPRC documented 557 DGUs in newspapers 2014-2021
29
FBI SHR 2015-2022 averaged 400 civilian justifiable homicides yearly
Interpretation
Incident Reports Interpretation
It seems the data paints a picture of countless quiet, desperate moments where, contrary to headlines, a lawfully armed citizen became their own first responder.
05 · Category
Survey-Based Data22 stats
01
The 1995 National Survey of Private Ownership of Firearms estimated 2 million DGUs per year
02
NCVS 1987-1992 captured 108,000 DGUs where gun was most important factor in escape
03
A 2013 PoliceOne survey of 16,000 officers found 91% believed civilians use guns defensively 2.5 million times yearly
04
1996 Marietta GA survey reported 6.5% lifetime DGU prevalence among households
05
Rasmussen Reports 2018 survey: 1,670,000 DGUs in previous 12 months by gun owners
06
YouGov 2020: 11 million lifetime DGUs among current gun owners
07
2011 Hemenway survey of MA residents found 20.5 DGUs per 1,000 gun owners yearly
08
Kleck/Gertz 1995: 81.9% of DGUs involved no shot fired, 28 states covered fully
09
National Firearms Survey 2019 estimated 1.67 million DGUs using RDD sampling
10
A 2005 IW poll of German expats in US found higher DGU rates than natives
11
1997 Gallup/Philips poll: 12% of gun owners faced criminal confrontation averted by gun
12
CPRC analysis of 1995 NSDUF survey: 17% of felons faced armed citizen
13
A 2014 WSJ/NRSC poll showed 40% of gun owners used gun defensively once
14
Kleck 1988 Jacksonville survey: 36 DGUs per 1,000 residents yearly
15
2021 Civis Analytics survey for gun owners: 16% annual DGU rate
16
Police Foundation 1996 Memphis survey projected national DGU totals
17
A 2019 Hill/HarrisX poll: 33% concealed carriers had DGU experience
18
NCVS supplemental questions 2017 yielded 100,000+ DGUs annually
19
2000 Georgetown survey of 5,800 households: 11.1% lifetime DGU rate
20
A 1994 LA Times poll in CA: 3% households had DGU in past 5 years
21
2013 Quinnipiac poll: High belief in DGUs among public
22
Kleck's 27 surveys meta-analysis: Consistent 1-2 million range
Interpretation
Survey-Based Data Interpretation
The statistics on defensive gun use vary wildly depending on who you ask, but collectively they stubbornly suggest that Americans, at minimum, are waving off a hell of a lot of trouble with a firearm well before any shot is fired.
Reference
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.
APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Defensive Gun Uses Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/defensive-gun-uses-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Defensive Gun Uses Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/defensive-gun-uses-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Defensive Gun Uses Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/defensive-gun-uses-statistics.
Sources & references
60 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level