Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN Legal & Legislation

Florida Alert! Heritage Foundation Introducing a Defensive Gun Use Database

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

DATE:       April 21, 2020
 TO:     USF & NRA Members and Friends
 FROM:     Marion P. Hammer
   USF Executive Director
   NRA Past President

 

Anti-gun forces are always quick to report the use of firearms in violent crimes - but they never talk about the number of times law-abiding people use a firearm successfully in lawful self-defense.   Published in the 1990s, "Point Blank" by  Dr. Gary Kleck, a criminologist and researcher from Florida State University, destroyed the arguments of  gun control proponents.

His research revealed that crime among people who carry guns for self-defense is almost nonexistent. 

His study found that a firearm is used to protect it's owner, from crime, approximately 2.5 million times a year.  Additionally, those findings show that for every time a gun is used in the commission of crime, a gun is used 3-4 more times in self-defense. 

The Heritage Foundation is now introducing a database of defensive gun use.  

 

Loading a New Database of Defensive Gun Use

By Amy Swearer 

Daily Signal

April 20, 2020 

https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/04/20/loading-a-new-database-of-defensive-gun-use/

 

Amy Swearer is a senior legal policy analyst at the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation. 

For well over a year, The Daily Signal has published a monthly series highlighting lawful gun owners who used their firearms to protect their liberties, lives, or livelihoods. 

Although these articles recount just a dozen or so stories each month, the incidents are selected from hundreds of other, similar examples. 

Those defensive gun usesare worth highlighting, too. That’s why The Heritage Foundation is introducing its Defensive Gun Use Database, an interactive map featuring all of the news accounts from police reports that we couldn’t fit into installments of the monthly series. 

What’s the Defensive Gun Use Database? 

The database features an interactive map that allows users to locate instances of defensive gun use in their own states and cities. 

Clicking on a specific dot on the map provides the user with an instant breakdown of important information about the incident of defensive gun use that the dot represents. 

For example, users can see the date and location of the defensive gun use, what type of firearm was involved, and the context in which the gun was used—including to defend against a home invasion, armed robbery, or domestic violence). 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost all major studies on defensive gun use have found that Americans use their firearms defensively between 500,000 and 3 million times each year. Researchers have good reason to believe, however, that most defensive gun uses aren’t reported to law enforcement, much less picked up by local or national media outlets…  https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/04/20/loading-a-new-database-of-defensive-gun-use/ 

 

Read More Articles on this subject...

https://www.heritage.org/search?contains=Defensive+Gun+Use+Database

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRENDING NOW
Virginia: Legislature Adjourns from 2026 Session; Anti-Gun Bills on Governor's Desk

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Virginia: Legislature Adjourns from 2026 Session; Anti-Gun Bills on Governor's Desk

On Saturday, March 14th, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die from the 2026 legislative session, and the future of the Commonwealth hangs in the balance. 

Michigan Red Flag Report Sheds Light on Confiscation Orders in Practice

News  

Monday, March 16, 2026

Michigan Red Flag Report Sheds Light on Confiscation Orders in Practice

This month, Michigan’s judicial branch published the 2025 edition of its annual report on the state’s Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (red flag gun confiscation order statute). 

Canada Spending $25K+ per Gun Confiscated from Non-Criminals; 0 Lives Saved

News  

Monday, March 16, 2026

Canada Spending $25K+ per Gun Confiscated from Non-Criminals; 0 Lives Saved

More proof (as if any was needed) has emerged that the Canadian gun ban and confiscation is a massive administrative, practical and economic debacle.

Virginia: Semi-Auto Ban Heads to Governor Spanberger's Desk

Monday, March 9, 2026

Virginia: Semi-Auto Ban Heads to Governor Spanberger's Desk

Yet another piece of anti-gun legislation has made it out of the General Assembly and is on its way to Governor Spanberger.

By George! Washington, D.C.’s Magazine Ban Invalidated by District’s Highest Court

News  

Monday, March 9, 2026

By George! Washington, D.C.’s Magazine Ban Invalidated by District’s Highest Court

Even as its formerly more liberty-loving neighbor, Virginia, goes down the tyrannical path of unconstitutional bans on firearms and magazines, residents of the nation’s capital last week gained a measure of relief from the District’s ...

Minnesota: Onslaught of Gun Control Bills Scheduled for Friday

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Minnesota: Onslaught of Gun Control Bills Scheduled for Friday

On Friday, March 13th, the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee will hold a hearing on the gun grabbers wish list, including semi-automatic bans, magazine capacity limits, and concealed carry restrictions. Please contact members of ...

Colorado: "FFL-Killer" Bill in House Committee on Monday

Friday, March 13, 2026

Colorado: "FFL-Killer" Bill in House Committee on Monday

On Monday, March 16th, the House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on Senate Bill 26-043, the FFL-Killer bill.

California: Public Safety Committees Set to Hear Multiple Firearm Bills

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

California: Public Safety Committees Set to Hear Multiple Firearm Bills

On Tuesday, March 17th at 8:30 AM, the Assembly Committee on Public Safety will hear Assembly Bill 1753 pertaining to gun violence restraining orders and Assembly Bill 1948, extending the validity concealed carry permit. Additionally ...

West Virginia: House Passes Constitutional Carry Expansion Bill as Legislature Adjourns

Sunday, March 15, 2026

West Virginia: House Passes Constitutional Carry Expansion Bill as Legislature Adjourns

On Saturday, March 14th, the West Virginia Legislature adjourned sine die from the 2026 legislative session.

Tennessee: Senate Floor Vote Tomorrow

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Tennessee: Senate Floor Vote Tomorrow

On Thursday, March 12th, the Senate is expected to vote on SB 3050, protecting tenants Second Amendment rights. Please contact your Senator and urge them to SUPPORT SB 3050 by using the TAKE ACTION button below.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.