Gun Violence Statistics

[Erik]

Just wondering - do any of you know any reliable statistics about guns?

Specifically:
What percent of shootings are accidents at home?

Stats on legally owned guns being used on family members or roommates in by someone worked up emotionally? Drunk? Drugs?

Numbers on people catching stray bullets? Property catching stray bullets?

Any statistics for shootings that were to prevent crime (i.e. home defense, someone on the street shooting a mugger and not being thrown in jail for it, etc.)?

Other interesting stats?

I am trying to sift through the media and urban myth sensationalism to find some real data. (I know, good luck, right...?)

Thanks.

[TonyU]

I don't know if what you're asking can be found on the internet. A few years ago I was doing a study very similar to your question and I used NYC as reference. I had to contact them personaly and they mailed me their stats. Don't know if this is available to non-leo as well.

I don't know for sure, but the stats may be also compiled and maintained by the seperate agencies.

[David Craik]

The problem with gun statistics in the public domain is that they are often published by those with an agenda. Thus HCI includes 18 year-olds and suicides in their "children who accidentally shot themselves dead" figures.

I'm not sure if there are reliable figures available for the specific things you mention. Most people who break down gun death numbers thus are trying to prove something for or against gun control, and manipulate the results.

[Cliff Hargrave]

Read this book:

Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America (http://www.amazon.com/Point-Blank-Guns-Violence-America/dp/020230762X/sr=8-1/qid=1165100759/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7438769-7707119?ie=UTF8&s=books)