Family calls shooting of car thief ‘senseless’

[WillburForce]

That stat about guns being used in self defence - surely must be flawed, as presumably they were defending against a gun??? So therefore it would always swing the other way???????

[spoonitnow]

That stat about guns being used in self defence - surely must be flawed, as presumably they were defending against a gun??? So therefore it would always swing the other way???????

What they were defending against isn't broken down in the stats, but criminals will have guns whether they are legal or not, so it's not entirely relevant.

[Savy]

What they were defending against isn't broken down in the stats, but criminals will have guns whether they are legal or not, so it's not entirely relevant.

I can assure you that in England the vast majority of crimes that take place people don't have guns.

If someone pulls a knife out of me when I'm walking home one night and tells me to give him my wallet. I make the decision if I want to risk getting stabbed or just give the guy my wallet, which is never going to have a huge amount of money in as I'm not an idiot who carries loads of cash. If we change this scenario to both of us having guns, I make the same decision pretty much. I either give him my wallet or risk getting shot, the only difference is there is now a chance I shoot him too. And I don't think shooting someone is a valid respone to them trying to mug me.

You'll find that Americans are just more likely to be paranoid into thinking they are going to get mugged/raped/whatever. Due to the constant fear their press makes them think that they are under all the time.