MYTH: Gun owners shoot someone they know after mistaking them for an intruder between five to eleven times each year
FACT: Gun owners shoot someone they know more than 28 times a year, on average, after mistaking the person for an intruder .
MYTH: US Homicide Numbers are Inflated Compared to Other Countries Because of Defensive Gun Use
FACT: The gap between the number of firearm homicides and murders reflects John Lott’s comparison of comprehensive CDC data with incomplete FBI data.
MYTH: Guns are the Safest and Most Effective Way to Prevent Crime
FACT: Surveys found that a majority of self-reported defensive gun uses were both illegal and provided no social benefit.
MYTH: Americans Use Guns Defensively Millions of Times a Year
FACT: Evidence from the Gun Violence Archive reveals approximately 2,000 verified defensive gun uses annually.
MYTH: Guns Are Used More Often In Self Defense Than To Commit Crimes
FACT: Each year in the U.S. approximately 40,000 people are fatally shot and tens of thousands more injured, compared to approximately 2,000 verified DGUs annually.