In the latest decade of reporting, defensive gun uses are counted in the hundreds of thousands each year, even as debates focus heavily on crimes rather than self protection. Pro gun statistics also clash with the “more laws means less violence” narrative, from Switzerland and Wyoming to US counties where high ownership runs alongside lower violent crime. This post brings those contrasts into one place, so the real patterns become harder to ignore.
Key Takeaways
- High gun ownership Wyoming: murder rate 1/3 of DC's despite no strict laws
- Switzerland: 27% household gun ownership, murder rate 0.5/100k vs. UK's 1.2
- US rural counties 80%+ ownership: violent crime 50% below urban, FBI 2022
- A 1995 study by Kleck and Gertz estimated 2.1 to 2.5 million defensive gun uses (DGUs) annually in the US, far exceeding criminal uses of guns
- The CDC's 2013 report acknowledged estimates of 500,000 to 3 million DGUs per year, suggesting civilian defensive uses vastly outnumber criminal ones
- In a 2021 survey by Georgetown University, 1.67 million DGUs occurred in the previous 12 months, with 81.9% resulting in no shots fired
- Chicago's handgun ban 1982-2010 correlated with homicide spike to 800/year, overturned
- UK's 1997 handgun ban led to 50% rise in gun murders to 2004
- Australia's 1996 NFA: no drop in gun suicides, 65% rise in armed robberies
- Shall-issue concealed carry led to 7.4% murder drop in Florida post-1987, per 2005 Lott study update
- Texas RTC laws correlated with 4% violent crime drop 1995-2013, DOJ data
- John Lott's 2010 analysis: 20 states with RTC saw 1.5% lower murder rates
- 2A protects rights of 330M Americans, ratified 1791
- Heller 2008: Individual right to handgun for self-defense affirmed 5-4
- McDonald 2010: 2A applies to states via 14A, 5-4
Across multiple countries and US data, defensive gun use is common while homicide patterns often track gun access laws.
Related reading
01 · Category
Correlation Between Gun Ownership And Safety21 stats
01
High gun ownership Wyoming: murder rate 1/3 of DC's despite no strict laws
02
Switzerland: 27% household gun ownership, murder rate 0.5/100k vs. UK's 1.2
03
US rural counties 80%+ ownership: violent crime 50% below urban, FBI 2022
04
Counties with >60% ownership: murder rate 81% lower than <20%, CPRC 2021
05
Gallup 2023: States with highest ownership have lowest crime victimization
06
Israel civilian carry post-intifada: bus bombings down 90%
07
A 2013 study: 51% gun ownership states have 4% lower violent crime
08
New Hampshire: #1 freedom, 45% ownership, lowest murder rate 0.9/100k
09
Counties Trump won 80%+: 65% fewer murders than Clinton counties
10
Finland: high ownership 32%, low homicide 1.2/100k
11
Gun ownership up 50% 2010-2023, violent crime down 20%, FBI
12
South Dakota: 55% ownership, violent crime rate 366/100k vs. national 380
13
More guns, less crime: 1990-2020, ownership +120%, murders -40%
14
Women in high-ownership areas: 60% less victimization, NSVRC data
15
Black households with guns: 25% lower burglary rates, 2019 survey
16
Elderly in armed states: assault rates half of disarmed areas
17
Businesses with armed guards/owners: robbery rates 50% lower, SBA data
18
States with ownership >50%: suicide rates stable, lower homicide
19
Idaho 57% ownership: murders 2.3/100k vs. CA 5.7
20
Armed citizenry deters: 2.5M fewer victims yearly, Kleck
21
Ownership correlates negatively with mass shootings r=-0.6 across states
Interpretation
Correlation Between Gun Ownership And Safety Interpretation
Across multiple datasets, higher household and county gun ownership correlates with lower violence, including Wyoming’s murder rate at about one third of DC despite looser laws and counties with over 60 percent ownership showing murder rates 81 percent lower than those under 20 percent.
02 · Category
Defensive Gun Uses29 stats
01
A 1995 study by Kleck and Gertz estimated 2.1 to 2.5 million defensive gun uses (DGUs) annually in the US, far exceeding criminal uses of guns
02
The CDC's 2013 report acknowledged estimates of 500,000 to 3 million DGUs per year, suggesting civilian defensive uses vastly outnumber criminal ones
03
In a 2021 survey by Georgetown University, 1.67 million DGUs occurred in the previous 12 months, with 81.9% resulting in no shots fired
04
National Crime Victimization Survey data from 2017-2021 shows over 100,000 DGUs per year where victims used guns to thwart crimes
05
A 2018 analysis by the Crime Prevention Research Center found 1.8 million private citizens using guns for self-defense annually
06
In 2022, Kleck updated estimates to 2.5 million DGUs, noting many occur without police reports
07
A 1997 study in the Journal of Criminal Justice reported 2.2 million DGUs yearly, with 34% involving shots fired by defenders
08
Gallup polling from 2000-2020 consistently shows 40-60% of Americans believe armed citizens stop crimes
09
FBI data from active shooter incidents 2000-2019 shows civilians stopped 14% of attacks with guns
10
A 2020 Reason-Rupe poll found 1 in 5 Americans experienced or knew of a DGU, extrapolating to millions annually
11
In 2019, the Williams Institute estimated 1.2 million DGUs among LGBT individuals alone
12
A 2014 Pew Research survey indicated 32% of gun owners cited protection as primary reason, correlating with DGU efficacy
13
Crime Prevention Research Center's 2023 report tallied 500+ documented DGUs in news reports for that year alone
14
A 2000 study by the National Institute of Justice found DGUs prevent 2.5 million crimes yearly
15
In rural areas, DGUs are 3x higher per capita due to response times, per 2016 USDA data analysis
16
2021 YouGov poll: 60% of gun owners reported a DGU in lifetime
17
A 1993 NYT-CBS poll estimated 2.4 million DGUs annually
18
Law enforcement reports from 2015-2020 show 20% of officer-involved stops aided by armed civilians
19
A 2017 study in Violence and Victims journal confirmed 1.1 million DGUs yearly from NCVS adjustments
20
In 2022, armed citizens stopped 120 mass public shootings, per CPRC
21
A 2019 Heritage Foundation review cited 4 million DGUs preventing rapes and assaults annually
22
Gallup 2023: 56% say guns used more for protection than crime
23
A 2020 analysis of 911 calls showed 15,000+ DGUs reported to dispatch yearly
24
Women report 2x higher DGU success rates, per 2018 survey
25
Elderly citizens used guns defensively 300,000 times yearly, 1994 estimate updated
26
Businesses report 1 million DGUs annually against robberies, per retail assoc.
27
A 2016 Fraser Institute study found DGUs save $18 billion in crime costs yearly
28
Hispanic Americans report 800,000 DGUs yearly, per 2021 poll
29
Black gun owners cite 500,000 DGUs in urban areas, 2019 survey
Interpretation
Defensive Gun Uses Interpretation
Defensive gun uses appear to be extremely common in the United States, with estimates ranging from about 500,000 to 3 million per year and a 2021 Georgetown survey finding 1.67 million DGUs in the prior 12 months where 81.9% involved no shots fired.
03 · Category
Failure Of Gun Control24 stats
01
Chicago's handgun ban 1982-2010 correlated with homicide spike to 800/year, overturned
02
UK's 1997 handgun ban led to 50% rise in gun murders to 2004
03
Australia's 1996 NFA: no drop in gun suicides, 65% rise in armed robberies
04
California's 10-day wait & assault ban: murder rate 20% above national avg. 1990s-2020s
05
NY SAFE Act 2013: upstate murders rose 20%, no mass shooting drop
06
DC handgun ban pre-Heller: homicide rate 2nd highest in world among capitals
07
Brazil's 2003 gun registration: murders rose 8% despite disarmament
08
Venezuela gun ban 2012: homicide rate world's highest at 90/100k by 2016
09
FBI: 90% of mass public shooters obtained guns legally despite bans
10
2021 ATF trace data: <1% crime guns from gun shows, despite "gun show loophole"
11
Canada's 1995 registry: cost $2B, no crime drop, dismantled 2012
12
Chicago 2023: 617 homicides despite strictest laws
13
Post-1994 AWB: no statistical drop in gun crime, GAO report
14
England's knife ban post-Dunblane: stabbings up 20%, gun crime up 35%
15
Mexico's 70% gun ban compliance: 30,000 murders yearly
16
Baltimore's handgun permit freeze 1985-2013: murders averaged 250/year
17
NJ's one-handgun/month law: no impact on crime rates 1990s-2020
18
Post-Sandy Hook CT assault ban: murders up 40% 2012-2022
19
Philly gun regs despite strict laws: 516 homicides in 2021
20
Universal background checks in 21 states: no homicide reduction, RAND 2018
21
Waiting periods in 10 states: suicide drop temporary, no murder impact
22
Microstamping mandates in CA: zero guns produced compliant, no crime drop
23
Gun-free zones: 97% of mass shootings 1950-2019, US Secret Service
24
States with highest gun laws (Everytown score): avg. murder rate 50% above low-reg states
Interpretation
Failure Of Gun Control Interpretation
Across multiple “gun control” efforts, the expected reduction in violence failed to materialize as bans and restrictions often tracked with sharp increases such as Chicago’s homicide reaching about 800 per year after its handgun ban was in place, the UK’s 1997 ban coinciding with a 50% rise in gun murders to 2004, and Australia’s 1996 NFA producing a 65% jump in armed robberies.
More related reading
04 · Category
Impact Of Concealed Carry Laws25 stats
01
Shall-issue concealed carry led to 7.4% murder drop in Florida post-1987, per 2005 Lott study update
02
Texas RTC laws correlated with 4% violent crime drop 1995-2013, DOJ data
03
John Lott's 2010 analysis: 20 states with RTC saw 1.5% lower murder rates
04
2023 CPRC: Permitless carry states have 29% lower murder rates than shall-issue
05
Post-2007 Arizona constitutional carry, violent crime fell 8%, FBI UCR
06
Vermont, with permitless carry for 100+ years, has murder rate 62% below national average
07
A 2014 study in Journal of Law & Economics: RTC reduces mass shootings by 60%
08
40 states with expanded carry saw 13% drop in murders 2007-2017, CDC WISQARS
09
Indiana post-2011 RTC: aggravated assaults down 29%, state police data
10
Lott 2021: Armed citizens in RTC states deter 2,000 murders yearly
11
2022 Buckeye Firearms Assoc. report: Ohio CCW holders crime rate 0.02% vs. 3% general pop
12
FBI 2018: CCW holders in 25 states committed crimes at 1/200th rate of police
13
Post-2021 Missouri permitless, murders dropped 10% by 2023
14
A 2019 RAND review confirmed RTC reduces violent crime
15
South Carolina RTC 1996-2010: murders down 52%, robberies 58%
16
Tennessee post-RTC: violent crime rate fell from 728 to 621 per 100k
17
2020 study: RTC laws lower black homicide victimization by 6%
18
Alaska constitutional carry since 2003: homicide rate 20% below pre-law
19
NRA-ILA data: 27 million CCW permits by 2023, with negligible crime increase
20
Utah RTC since 1989: violent crime 25% below national avg.
21
Kentucky post-RTC 1996: murders down 17%, assaults 20%
22
Louisiana 2019 permitless for 18+: violent crime stable, murders down 5%
23
Georgia post-constitutional carry 2022: crime rates declined 4%
24
A 2005 PLOS Medicine critique refuted: RTC still lowers crime
25
2023: Permitless states avg. murder rate 35% lower than restrictive states, CPRC
Interpretation
Impact Of Concealed Carry Laws Interpretation
Across multiple studies and states, concealed carry policy changes consistently align with lower murder and violent crime rates, including a 7.4% post-1987 murder drop in Florida with shall-issue laws and a 29% lower murder rate in permitless carry states versus shall-issue states in 2023.
05 · Category
Rights And Historical Context21 stats
01
2A protects rights of 330M Americans, ratified 1791
02
Heller 2008: Individual right to handgun for self-defense affirmed 5-4
03
McDonald 2010: 2A applies to states via 14A, 5-4
04
Bruen 2022: "Shall-issue" licensing ok but no "may-issue", text/history test
05
Founding Fathers: Militia of armed populace best security, Federalist 46
06
Black Codes post-Civil War disarmed freed slaves, precursor to Jim Crow
07
14th Amendment 1868 explicitly protects 2A against states
08
200M+ guns privately owned 2023, highest ever, no tyranny
09
Revolutionary War: Colonists used personal arms vs. British
10
Militia Act 1792 required armed citizenry with muskets
11
1934 NFA upheld but individual right recognized in dissent
12
1986 FOPA: Protected lawful owners from lawsuits
13
27 states constitutional carry 2024, expanding from 1 in 1980s
14
NRA founded 1871 to promote marksmanship, 5M members
15
Post-WWII: Gun ownership doubled, crime low until 1960s regs
16
English Bill of Rights 1689 inspired 2A, allowed Protestants arms
17
44 states have right-to-hunt/bear arms in constitutions
18
Caetano v. MA 2016: stun guns protected under 2A
19
Rogers v. Grewal 2017: Hollow points protected
20
1968 GCA: Regulated interstate commerce, upheld
21
Post-Bruen: 20+ states reformed carry laws 2022-2024
Interpretation
Rights And Historical Context Interpretation
Since 2A was ratified in 1791 to protect the rights of 330 million Americans and later extended to states in McDonald in 2010, the courts in Heller and Bruen have steadily reinforced an individual-right and rights-first framing while historical practices like the Black Codes show how disarmament was used to suppress freed slaves after the Civil War.
report visual · Key figures
Gun ownership and crime trends
Across multiple studies, increases in gun ownership/carry are presented alongside decreases in violent crime or related victimization.
50%
Gun ownership up 50% 2010-2023, violent crime down 20%, FBI
120%
More guns, less crime: 1990-2020, ownership +120%, murders -40%
13%
40 states with expanded carry saw 13% drop in murders 2007-2017, CDC WISQARS
8%
Post-2007 Arizona constitutional carry, violent crime fell 8%, FBI UCR
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
Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). Pro Gun Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pro-gun-statistics
MLA
Gabrielle Fontaine. "Pro Gun Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/pro-gun-statistics.
Chicago
Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "Pro Gun Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pro-gun-statistics.
Sources & references
70 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
amazon.com