Self-Defense Statistics

Understanding the Facts

A self-defense situation can occur anywhere: Your home, in public, at the workplace, at a grocery store, at a party, etc. Knowing and understanding self defense statistics can help you better understand and identify potential threats as well as arm you with the knowledge and reliable data needed to effectively educate or debate others on the subject.

Key Self-Defense Statistics

• Credible studies demonstrate that Defensive Gun Uses (DGU) is prevalent in the United States with estimates ranging from 500,000 to 3 million each year as reported by the National Academies Press and acknowledged by the Centers for Disease Control
• The 2021 National Firearms Survey by William English with Georgetown University found that 31.1% of gun owners claim to have used a firearm in a DGU scenario, and estimates that guns are used defensively by firearms owners in approximately 1.67 million incidents per year.
• Additionally, the 2021 National Firearms Survey found that handguns are the most common firearm employed for self-defense (65.99% of defensive incidents), and in most defensive incidents (81.99%) no shot was fired.
• The 2021 National Firearms Survey further demonstrates that defensive incidents occur anywhere, even at home where people feel the safest. Approximately 25% of defensive incidents occur inside the gun owner’s home, and almost half (53.4%) occurred outside their home, but on their property. About one out of ten (9.2%) defensive gun uses occurred in public, and approximately one out of thirty (3.2%) occurred at work.
• A Pew Research Center survey in July 2024 finds nearly 40% of U.S. adults say they live in a house with a gun while 32% of respondents say they personally own a gun.
• Approximately 25% of Women today own a firearm based on the Pew study referenced above vs. just 13% nearly 20 years ago.
• 72% of gun owners claim personal protection is the primary reason they own a firearm (Pew Research July 2024).
• According to the 2021 National Firearms Survey, 56.2% of gun owners carry a handgun for self-defense at least sometimes and about 35% carry a handgun frequently.
• Further the 2021 National Firearms Survey estimates that approximately 20.7 million gun owners (26.3%) carry a handgun in public under a ‘concealed carry’ regime, making concealed carry a common practice.
• In 2023, approximately 21.7 million Americans have a concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit which is a small decrease from a high of 21.8 million in 2022. Additionally, the same Report from Crime Research Center indicated that 8.4% of adults have a CCW permit.
• Due largely to the Supreme Court case ; The decision struck down New York’s “may issue” permitting system. This ruling significantly expanded gun rights and forced the remaining restrictive states to ease restrictions. All 50 states now allow concealed carry in public via permit or permit-less carry.
• As of this writing (10/3/2024), 29 states are “Constitutional Carry” meaning, no permit is required to carry as long as the carrier is not prohibited to possess a firearm (Handgunlaw.us). As a result, it is very difficult to know how many Americans carry a concealed handgun daily. Interestingly, Vermont does not have a specific law saying carrying a concealed firearm for self-defense is illegal.  Since the state was formed on March 4, 1791 any person 18 years of age or older who can legally possess a firearm under State and Federal Law can carry a concealed handgun in the State of Vermont without a permit.

 

NOTE: Using a firearm or other weapon to defend yourself, family, and others can expose you to risks ranging from criminal prosecution, civil suits, and post-traumatic psychological stress that you may not be aware of. We encourage you to check out our legal defense plans designed to protect your legal rights and mental health from trigger to trial. Check out our LEGAL DEFENSE PLANS.

READ MORE: When It’s Too Late to Buy CCW Insurance

Self-defense is a fundamental Constitutional Right for protecting your right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. These statistics highlight the relevance of self-defense and offer evidence to those seeking statistics in the gun debate.

Gun Use Statistics | Sales and Ownership

If you don’t exercise your rights, then you are more likely to lose them. Fortunately, tens of millions of Americans have decided to avail themselves of their Second Amendment rights for preserving life and liberty. Recent statistics demonstrate the growing popularity of firearm ownership in the United States.

READ MORE: More Women and Minorities are Buying Guns

• The National Shooting Sports and Firearms (NSSF) association, the firearm industry trade association, noted that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported total domestic firearm production in its 2021 AFMER of 12,521,614 guns – an increase of 28.6 percent over 2020 reported figures.
• The NSSF also estimates the total number of firearms in civilian possession from 1990-2021 is 473.2 million, according to data in reports such as ATF Firearms Commerce in the United States, ATF Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Exportation Reports and Congressional Research Service and including the collective ATF Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Exportation Report (AFMER) reports up to the 2021 edition.
• The NSSF further estimates there are 28.1 million Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) in circulation since 1990, demonstrating AR-15 pattern semiautomatic rifles are commonly owned in America.
• According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) survey data indicates that since 2020, first time buyers have hovered around 30% of all gun sales.
• 2020 was a watershed year for gun sales. Based on NICS background check data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), approximately 22.7 million firearms were sold in 2020 (65% more than 2019) fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, fears from days of riots in many cities and towns stemming from the death of George Floyd and fears of the 2020 Presidential election outcome (safehome.org).
• Below are yearly NICS background checks per the FBI
  • 2019: 28,369,750
  • 2020: 39,695,315
  • 2021: 38,876,673
  • 2022: 31,596,646
  • 2023: 29,854,176
  • 2024: 18,206,250 (through August 2024)
• NICS background checks are often higher than the estimate of new gun sales because there may be multiple checks for a single purchase, some states require background checks for private transfer of an existing firearm and some states require NICS checks to issue permits, pawn shop redemptions and other investigations involving firearms.

LEARN MORE: The Best Legal Defense Plans for CCW Holders and Homeowners