Guns Don't Kill ...

... people do. They also misspell words, drive automobiles while intoxicated and overeat.


Here's how to maximize the odds of getting yourself killed.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice in 1992:

Violent Crimes: 7,162,000 (100%)

Victims Shot: 28,000 (0.4%)

Violent Crimes Using Handguns: 931,000

Victims Shot: 28,000 (3%)

Violent Crime With Victims Using Guns for Self Defense: 83,000

Victims Shot: 12,000 (14%)

Violent Crimes With Victims Using Guns for Self Defense by Attacking Offender: 31,000

Victims Shot: 7,000 (23%)

Violent Crimes With Victims NOT Using Guns for Self Defense: 903,000

Victims Shot: 16,000 (1.8%)

In other words, you are an order of magnitude more likely to get shot as the victim of a violent crime if you use a gun for self defense. A dog that barks is a far better deterent than a gun.

Then again, the CFO is constantly reminding me that 50% of the population has an IQ of less than 100.

PS: As a US citizen, your overall chances of being shot with a handgun during the commission of a violent crime was 0.14% in 1992. Your chances of being shot while hunting in North Carolina was 0.014% in that year. Your chances of being shot by a handgun while hunting was 0.000%.

PPS: By owning three long guns but no handguns, I exercise my right to bear arms. I've never pointed a gun, loaded or unloaded, at another person. I have had a handgun pointed at me. I didn't stay around, however, to make a determination of whether it was loaded.