NCJ Number
162375
Journal
Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia Volume: 83 Issue: 13 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 157-159
Date Published
1994
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Many people assume the number of firearms owned by private citizens is directly related to the crime rate, but a potential victim using a gun is more likely to thwart an attack and is only about half as likely to be injured in the process.
Abstract
The point is that criminals are exceptional people; more than 75 percent of all crimes are committed by about 10 percent of the population. Therefore, restricting the purchase or possession of firearms by the 90 percent who do not pose a problem is not an effective crime prevention approach. The right to own a gun is guaranteed by the Constitution, and guns are used to stop crimes twice as often as they are used to commit crimes. The defensive use of firearms and the role of guns in crime prevention are much more significant than most people realize. Examples of the relationship between gun ownership and crime in Florida, Oregon, and Texas are cited. 19 references