Handgun Self-Defense: America’s Biggest Secret?
by: Robert
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Home invasions. Rapes. Carjackings. Murders. Everyday our local and national news reports that these heinous crimes are being committed all around us. What is rarely reported is the number of crimes which are prevented when people use guns in self-defense. According to research by Florida State University and other universities, an estimated 2.5 million ordinary Americans use a gun to protect themselves from criminals each year. In the majority of cases, no shots are ever fired; the mere act of wielding a weapon is enough to deter the criminal and stop the intended offense.
Even more interesting is to find out who these gun-carrying citizens are. They’re average everyday people; level-headed, responsible citizens that you would sit beside in church on Sunday or play golf with on weekends. So why are most of us stunned when we see the results of these studies?
“At first glance the statistics might seem high,” says Chris Bird, a gun-rights activist and author of the new book, “Thank God I Had a Gun: True Accounts of Self-Defense (Privateer Publications, 2007). “But you must understand the dynamics involved. For example, most people who defend themselves with a gun don’t report the incident to law enforcement officials. And unless a criminal is actually shot, you probably won’t hear about it in the news.”
A former investigative reporter, Bird believes there are additional reasons these incidents go under-reported. “Fear deters many people from reporting a self-defense confrontation,” says Bird. “Can you imagine being arrested for protecting yourself? ‘He-said, she-said’ type cases are typically left to a prosecutor’s discretion. That means the person defending himself could wind up on the wrong side of the law.”
Another factor is the location of the attempted crime. People are much more hesitant to involve the police when the incident occurs outside of their home or off their property. Laws vary from state to state, but most people don’t want to be subjected to interpretations of gun use laws that could find them at fault, even though they were protecting themselves.
Researchers at Saint Louis University have taken defensive gun use studies even further. They’ve tried to determine the impact of armed self-defense on the crime rate. According to the study, civilians kill an average of 299 felons per year (88% with guns) in cases of justifiable homicide. Based on the shooting deaths of those felons, researchers estimate that there are approximately 400,000 fewer violent crimes each year.
“One of the best-kept secrets in America is how often and effectively ordinary citizens defend themselves with firearms against a criminal attack or threat,” says Bird. “For decades, Americans have been brainwashed into taking a passive role in their own survival. "Fortunately, some citizens have ignored that advice and are taking responsibility for their own safety and survival."
Author: Chris Bird
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About the Author
Chris Bird For more information visit www.PrivateerPublications.com.
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