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Firearms and Self-Defense

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  • DAVID McDOWALL

Abstract

While usually discussed as a cause of crime, guns also may protect against it. Firearm ownership is difficult to measure, but all sources agree that millions of Americans have guns for defense. Although existing research is not in complete agreement, defensive gun ownership appears to increase with fear of crime and with concerns about collective security. How often victims use guns against offenders is controversial; some data suggest that armed resistance is rare, while other data suggest that it is very common. The data showing that firearm defense is rare also indicate that it is often successful.

Suggested Citation

  • DAVID McDOWALL, 1995. "Firearms and Self-Defense," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 539(1), pages 130-140, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:539:y:1995:i:1:p:130-140
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716295539001010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Webster, D.W. & Gainer, P.S. & Champion, H.R., 1993. "Weapon carrying among inner-city junior high school students: Defensive behavior vs aggressive delinquency," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 83(11), pages 1604-1608.
    2. McDowall, D. & Wiersema, B., 1994. "The incidence of defensive firearm use by US crime victims, 1987 through 1990," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 84(12), pages 1982-1984.
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