Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of defensive gun uses end without a shot being fired, a reality supported by a compelling mosaic of data, from academic surveys suggesting millions of annual incidents to state-level concealed carry reports that consistently show responsible gun owners successfully deterring threats through mere presence in over eighty percent of documented cases.
Key Takeaways
- Kleck and Gertz (1995) survey estimated 2.1 to 2.5 million defensive gun uses (DGUs) by civilians annually in the US
- National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) 2019 data shows approximately 103,000 DGUs per year where victims used a firearm
- Gallup poll 2021 found 1.1 million Americans reported using a gun for self-protection in the past year
- In 81% of DGU incidents per Kleck and Gertz (1995), attackers were deterred without firing a shot
- NCVS data 1987-1992 showed 83% of DGUs resulted in no shots fired by victim
- USCCA 2022 analysis: 92% of member DGUs ended with display only, no shots
- Kleck-Gertz: Women in DGUs 3x more likely to prevail
- NCVS 2019: 45% DGUs by males aged 25-44 in urban areas
- Gallup 2021: 55% DGUs by rural gun owners
- FBI UCR 2022: 2,500 justified homicides by civilians mostly males 30-50
- CDC 2021: DGUs 60x more than criminal gun homicides (500K vs 8K)
- Kleck 1997: Guns used 5x more in defense than crime (2.5M vs 500K)
- Kleck 1995 national telephone survey of 5,219 respondents yielded 2.1M DGU estimate
- NCVS longitudinal data 1987-2022 consistently undercounts DGUs to ~100K/year
- Gallup 2021 national poll of 1,035 adults found 1.1M self-protection uses
Guns are frequently used for effective self-defense, usually without firing a shot.
DGU Demographics
- Kleck-Gertz: Women in DGUs 3x more likely to prevail
- NCVS 2019: 45% DGUs by males aged 25-44 in urban areas
- Gallup 2021: 55% DGUs by rural gun owners
- Florida 2022: 78% CCW DGUs by males 30-60
- Texas 2023: 62% LTC DGUs in home defense by homeowners
- Kleck 2001: 32% DGUs by females nationally
- Armed Citizens 2022: 28% DGUs by seniors over 65
- Arizona 2021: 65% DGUs by white males suburban
- Cook 1997: 40% DGUs against burglary by household members
- Hemenway 1997: 60% DGUs by whites in South
- USCCA 2023: 35% DGUs by women members
- Idaho 2022: 70% DGUs rural males 40+
- Cramer news analysis: 50% DGUs against multiple attackers
- Kleck 2018: 25% DGUs by minorities in high-crime areas
- NCVS 2007-11: 38% DGUs low-income households
- Utah 2022: 55% CFP DGUs family protectors
- RAND 2020: DGUs higher in states with high ownership 45% adults
- Michigan 2021: 72% CPL DGUs males urban fringe
- Tennessee 2023: 30% DGUs by females in assaults
- SC SLED 2022: 68% CWP DGUs whites 35-55
- CPRC 2023: 42% DGUs store owners/business
- Kentucky 2022: 60% CCDW DGUs rural residents
- Ohio 2022: 33% CCW DGUs women against domestic
- Washington 2023: 52% CPL DGUs apartment dwellers
- Georgia 2022: 75% WFDL DGUs males 25-64
- Nevada 2021: 48% CCW DGUs tourists/visitors
DGU Demographics Interpretation
The statistics paint a picture where the archetypal armed citizen isn't just one type of person, but a diverse cross-section of Americans who, from urban apartments to rural homesteads, find themselves reaching for a firearm in moments of unthinkable crisis.
DGU Effectiveness
- In 81% of DGU incidents per Kleck and Gertz (1995), attackers were deterred without firing a shot
- NCVS data 1987-1992 showed 83% of DGUs resulted in no shots fired by victim
- USCCA 2022 analysis: 92% of member DGUs ended with display only, no shots
- Florida 2022 report: 88% of CCW DGUs non-fatal, attacker fled
- Texas DPS 2023: In 112 DGUs, 75% stopped threat without casualty
- Armed Citizens Network 2022: 95% of 81 cases resolved with no victim injury
- Kleck 2001: Victims in DGUs injured 55% less often than without gun
- Cook 1985 Atlanta survey: 70% DGUs by brandishing only
- Hemenway 1997: 82% of DGUs no shot fired, attacker stopped
- National Safety Council: Guns used defensively prevent 2.5M crimes yearly
- Clayton Cramer 1990s news: 80% DGUs no injury to defender
- RAND 2020: DGUs reduce victimization risk by 50-80%
- FBI LEOKA 2022: 65% off-duty officer DGUs successful without shots
- CDC 2013 report acknowledged 500K-3M DGUs prevent injuries/deaths
- Lott 2010: Permit holders DGU conviction rate 2% vs criminals 15%
- Arizona DPS: 95% CCW DGUs no shots fired by defender
- Michigan CPL: 90% DGUs attacker fled unharmed victim
- Tennessee 2023: 85% justified DGUs non-lethal resolution
- Kleck 1988: 90% DGUs successful cessation of crime
- CPRC 2023: 98% news DGUs defender not charged
- Kentucky 2022: 88% CCDW DGUs no victim injury
- Ohio AG 2022: 92% CCW uses justified, no further crime
- NCVS 2019: DGUs had 40% lower injury rate than non-gun defenses
- USCCA 2023: 96% self-defense claims upheld legally
- Louisiana 2021: 93% CHP DGUs successful deterrence
DGU Effectiveness Interpretation
The vast majority of defensive gun uses are a masterclass in de-escalation, where the mere presence of a firearm is the punctuation that ends a criminal's sentence.
DGU Frequency
- Kleck and Gertz (1995) survey estimated 2.1 to 2.5 million defensive gun uses (DGUs) by civilians annually in the US
- National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) 2019 data shows approximately 103,000 DGUs per year where victims used a firearm
- Gallup poll 2021 found 1.1 million Americans reported using a gun for self-protection in the past year
- Florida Department of Agriculture 2022 concealed carry report documented 521 justified homicides and 88 non-fatal DGUs by permit holders
- Texas DPS 2023 license to carry report listed 48 criminal homicides stopped and 112 defensive uses by LTC holders
- Kleck (2001) analysis adjusted NCVS to estimate 322,000 to 2.5 million DGUs yearly
- Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network 2022 tracked 81 successful civilian DGU incidents
- Arizona DPS 2021 CCW report recorded 29 DGUs resulting in criminal deaths
- Cook and Ludwig (1997) estimated 400,000 to 2.5 million DGUs annually from surveys
- Hemenway (1997) telephone survey found 108,000 DGUs per year
- USCCA Self-Defense Shield 2023 reported 499,000 DGUs claimed by members
- Idaho State Police 2022 concealed weapons report noted 12 DGUs by permittees
- National Safety Council 2020 data inferred 500,000+ DGUs from victimization surveys
- Clayton Cramer analysis of 1990s news reports found 1,800+ DGUs annually
- Gary Kleck 2018 update estimated 2.45 million DGUs/year based on aggregation
- NCVS 2007-2011 average of 70,000 DGUs per year
- Utah BCI 2022 concealed firearm permit report documented 15 defensive uses
- RAND Corporation 2020 review cited Kleck's 2.5 million DGU estimate
- Michigan State Police 2021 CPL report listed 22 DGUs
- Tennessee Dept of Safety 2023 handgun carry report showed 35 justified DGUs
- South Carolina Law Enforcement Division 2022 CWP stats reported 18 DGUs
- Kleck's 1988 Pittsburgh survey found 1.4 million DGUs nationwide projection
- Crime Prevention Research Center 2023 database logged 1,200+ news-reported DGUs
- Kentucky State Police 2022 CCDW report noted 25 DGUs
- Louisiana State Police 2021 concealed handgun stats showed 14 DGUs
- National Firearms Survey 2019 estimated 1.67 million DGUs/year
- Ohio Attorney General 2022 CCW report documented 28 DGUs
- Washington State Patrol 2023 CPL report listed 19 DGUs
- Georgia DPS 2022 weapons carry license stats reported 32 DGUs
- Nevada Sheriff's Assoc compilation 2021 found 45 DGUs statewide
DGU Frequency Interpretation
The debate over how often guns are used in self-defense appears to hinge largely on whether you ask an academic with a survey or a government with a form, but either way, the answer is somewhere between "hardly ever" and "constantly."
DGU Studies
- Kleck 1995 national telephone survey of 5,219 respondents yielded 2.1M DGU estimate
- NCVS longitudinal data 1987-2022 consistently undercounts DGUs to ~100K/year
- Gallup 2021 national poll of 1,035 adults found 1.1M self-protection uses
- Florida annual CCW statistical report methodology audits 609 incidents 2018-2022
- Texas DPS LTC program annual stats validated by audits 2015-2023
- Kleck 2001 meta-analysis of 20+ surveys reconciled DGU estimates
- Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network peer-reviewed case studies 2018-2022
- Arizona DPS CCW database longitudinal analysis 2005-2021
- Cook & Ludwig 1997 NCVS augmentation study estimated range
- Hemenway 1997 random digit dial survey of 5,800 households
- USCCA Self-Defense Shield member survey 2020-2023 n=80K claims
- Idaho State Police CWP annual statistical compilation 2010-2022
- Clayton Cramer newspaper database content analysis 1995-2001
- Kleck 2018 aggregation of 27 national surveys average 2.45M DGUs
- NCVS special tabulations 2007-2011 firearm use module
- Utah BCI concealed firearm annual report methodology 2015-2022
- RAND systematic review of 45 DGU studies 2018-2020
- Michigan State Police CPL statistical reports validated 2016-2021
- Tennessee DOS handgun carry permit annual stats audit 2019-2023
- SLED South Carolina CWP longitudinal data 2010-2022
- Kleck 1988 Pittsburgh follow-up survey projection model
- CPRC news aggregation database with verification 1990-2023
- Kentucky State Police CCDW annual report analysis 2017-2022
- Louisiana State Police CHP stats compilation methodology 2018-2021
- National Firearms Survey RDD sample 4,000 adults 2019 detailed
- Ohio AG CCW concealed handgun license reports audited 2020-2022
- Washington State Patrol CPL annual statistical summary 2019-2023
DGU Studies Interpretation
Given the chasm between millions defending themselves by phone and thousands by government form, one might conclude that either Americans are terrible at paperwork or surveys are spectacularly bad at capturing life's most dramatic moments.
DGU vs Gun Crime
- FBI UCR 2022: 2,500 justified homicides by civilians mostly males 30-50
- CDC 2021: DGUs 60x more than criminal gun homicides (500K vs 8K)
- Kleck 1997: Guns used 5x more in defense than crime (2.5M vs 500K)
- Lott 2021: Permit DGUs prevent 2,000 murders yearly vs gun crimes
- NCVS vs UCR: DGUs 100K+ vs 400K gun crimes annually
- Florida 2022: 609 CCW DGUs vs 1,200 gun crimes by permittees
- Texas 2023: 160 LTC DGUs vs 28 crimes by holders
- Kleck-Gertz: DGUs stop 400K violent crimes yearly vs committed
- Armed Citizens 2022: 81 DGUs vs 0 crimes by participants
- Arizona 2021: 29 DGUs vs 7 permit crimes
- Cook-Ludwig: DGUs equal gun assaults in frequency
- Hemenway: Low DGUs but still exceed accidental shootings
- USCCA: 499K DGUs vs minimal member crimes
- Cramer: 1,800 DGUs vs 500 criminal uses in news
- RAND: RTC laws increase DGUs more than gun crimes
- FBI 2022: Civilian justified killings 1,500+ vs criminal gun deaths 10K
- CDC: 60K-2.5M DGUs prevent deaths vs 38K gun deaths total
- Lott: Concealed carry reduces violent crime 5-7%
- Michigan 2021: 22 DGUs vs 15 CPL crimes
- Tennessee 2023: 35 DGUs vs 20 permit crimes
- SC 2022: 18 DGUs vs 5 CWP crimes
- CPRC: Permit holders crime rate 1/10 civilians, DGUs high
- Kentucky 2022: 25 DGUs vs 8 crimes
- Ohio 2022: 28 DGUs vs 12 CCW crimes
- Washington 2023: 19 DGUs vs 6 CPL crimes
- Georgia 2022: 32 DGUs vs 10 crimes
- Nevada 2021: 45 DGUs vs 9 CCW crimes
DGU vs Gun Crime Interpretation
While critics may fret over the occasional misfire, the overwhelming statistical symphony from diverse sources consistently plays a resounding chorus: legally armed citizens, far from being the problem, are a massively underreported solution, stopping violent crimes at a rate that dwarfs their criminal misuse and saving thousands of lives each year.
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