Gun self-defense and deterrence

摘要: Recent research on the prevalence of defensive gun use has prompted growing concern that government efforts to regulate ownership and may be counterproductive. Estimates from National Crime Victimization Survey (on order 100,000 per year) appear too low. However, estimates one-time telephone surveys (from 1.5 2.5 million high; even a modest rate false positives lead substantial upward bias. A more promising approach is examine net effects policies rates crime injury directly. Evidence for deterrent effect permissive concealed gun-carrying laws comes recent study by Lott Mustard. Reanalysis their data suggests estimated "treatment effects" are due in part or whole unmeasured variables. More studies find no evidence significant negative these crime, though available remains far definitive.