Harvard Gun Study

[Altfish]

Are there any figures anywhere to demonstrate the oft repeated claim that guns are used for self-defence? i.e. tales of armed robbers being fought off by single mums with guns.

 

[Revoltingest]

Are there any figures anywhere to demonstrate the oft repeated claim that guns are used for self-defence? i.e. tales of armed robbers being fought off by single mums with guns.

Here is one overview....
Defensive gun use - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Of course, various partisans on all sides will decry studies which don't confirm their views.
Huff Po, NYT, Wash Po will find that defensive gun use (DGU) is rare.
Gary Kleck & other criminologists will find it common.
Wherein this continuum of extremes lies reality?
I let personal experience shed light.
I know several who have used guns in self defense, usually without firing a shot.
I've been there & done that.
But I don't know anyone who admits using a gun in a crime.
I know of one accidental shooting....a cop friend who shot himself thru carelessness.

 

[Nietzsche]

Not sure you can extrapolate from South Africa to America in that way. SA is a pretty unique circumstance.
When I lived in Papua New Guinea, the only peacetime place on earth that was rated as more violent was SA (specially J'berg)

I imagine so. I've never met a nice South African..

 

[jeager106]

I'm all for gun control!
If you can't hit your target you have no business with a gun.
I have lots of guns and am damned good with them all.

 

[metis]

living on the outside of the US, I'm going to chime in with what is happening here.

We've got some of the worlds toughest gun laws, yet despite all the gun laws we've got one of the highest gun related crime stats in the world.

There was a statement last year that stated more people die in south africa per day than in any active war currently. (Can't find the quote currently)

So tightening the law won't lead to less crime/murders

There's always other factors that influence the crime rate, and the proliferation of guns, although important, is only one of them. The only way to determine which is/are the real causes is through controlled studies, and Harvard has an excellent reputation when it comes to that. However, they don't walk on water, so any studies, including theirs, is always subject to review.

 

[metis]

Presumably, by asking "who" has them, you are referring to the criminal element. Yet, I believe I've seen studies that the majority of deaths by handguns were from people that the victim knew. That is, their own family did the shooting.

According to the Detroit Police Department, roughly 80% of all homicides there are either family disputes or drug related.

 

[leibowde84]

Harvard publishes a study about guns & gun rights.
It's like RJ Reynolds funding a study about the joys & safety of smoking.
I speculate that some bias might creep in.

Come on, though. Don't be one of those guys who disbelieves everything that might go against their presently held beliefs about guns because of an asusmption of bias. What specifically in the article leads you to believe that the results are based, at least somewhat, on bias?

 

[metis]

If anyone seriously thinks there's a bias in the Harvard study, they'd better think twice about that. Harvard has a stellar reputation that they certainly would not want sullied by carelessness or bias, plus they submit all scientific studies for peer review, meaning that other scientists have full access to how the study was put together, conducted, and tabulated. Carelessness and bias would be almost impossible to pull off without whistle-blowers nailing the researchers to a cross.

An honest reaction back would be if someone who made such a charge actually produced a peer-review study(ies) that indicated that this Harvard study is off the mark, but they're not likely to produce such evidence since it's so much easier just to spout off nonsense.

 

[metis]

So the police are willing to turn in their guns as well?
Ban guns the police will no longer have a need to carry right?

What does this have to do with what I posted in the OP? I never mentioned, nor did the study mention, that police or all citizens need to be disarmed. The article, nor the reason why I posted it, suggests that we need to remove all guns from American society.

 

[metis]

No, I didn't feel like looking. That why I wrote "I believe". I'm just recalling stuff that I've read.

And your memory is correct as there has been numerous scientific studies on this matter, pretty much saying much the same. BTW, you'll notice that the one who asked you for studies never posted one himself.

 

[Nakosis]

What does this have to do with what I posted in the OP? I never mentioned, nor did the study mention, that police or all citizens need to be disarmed. The article, nor the reason why I posted it, suggests that we need to remove all guns from American society.

The title of the study "Guns Don't Deter Crime". So if police having guns doesn't deter criminals then not much point in the police having them.

 

[metis]

The title of the study "Guns Don't Deter Crime". So if police having guns doesn't deter criminals then not much point in the police having them.

Please read the article.

 

[metis]

Here's another scientific study made in 2013: Science Confirms The Obvious: Gun Laws Are Associated With Fewer Gun Deaths | Popular Science

 

[metis]

Here's another one made in 2013 but from a different source than the above: The Science of Guns Proves Arming Untrained Citizens Is a Bad Idea - Scientific American

 

[leibowde84]

Are there any figures anywhere to demonstrate the oft repeated claim that guns are used for self-defence? i.e. tales of armed robbers being fought off by single mums with guns.

I would assume there are plenty of examples off this that could be found using a simple Google search. I'm not sure it supports any position though.

The title of the study "Guns Don't Deter Crime". So if police having guns doesn't deter criminals then not much point in the police having them.

This is illogical. The article doesn't speak to whether the police being armed makes a difference. It only speaks to whether citizens having easier access to firearms actually cuts down on violent gun crimes.

 

[YmirGF]

Am I the only one that finds these numbers to be less than shocking in a country that is awash with guns? If guns were such a huge problem I'd expect the numbers to be far higher. Cars cause far more deaths annually and yet no one is screaming to curb ownership of cars.

 

[leibowde84]

Am I the only one that finds these numbers to be less than shocking in a country that is awash with guns? If guns were such a huge problem I'd expect the numbers to be far higher. Cars cause far more deaths annually and yet no one is screaming to curb ownership of cars.

The purpose of cars is not to harm or intimidate others. That is the difference. Their intended use is for travel. A guns intended use is to harm living things. Not a fair comparison.

 

[LuisDantas]

Harvard publishes a study about guns & gun rights.
It's like RJ Reynolds funding a study about the joys & safety of smoking.
I speculate that some bias might creep in.

Are you implying that Harvard might have a definite reason to be partial? Why?

 

[LuisDantas]

Instead, it could mean more guns per person capable of owning them.
Whether I have 1 or 100, the number of my properly stored & carried guns is immaterial regarding safety & defense.

Don't you feel it will be at least controversial to decide who should have such a dangerous privilege?

 

[LuisDantas]

living on the outside of the US, I'm going to chime in with what is happening here.

We've got some of the worlds toughest gun laws, yet despite all the gun laws we've got one of the highest gun related crime stats in the world.

There was a statement last year that stated more people die in south africa per day than in any active war currently. (Can't find the quote currently)

So tightening the law won't lead to less crime/murders

Not necessarily. Laws do little to diminish violence, that much is true. But they are far more capable of banalizing or encouraging it.