I should have said "I don't think there is any reliable _interpretation_ of the statistics on this."

There was a book out recently claiming that statistics show that more gun ownership decreases crime. I don't know that I believe it, but that's what he said. I hear that gun homicide statistics include suicide and self defense, which are neither crime nor accident. I don't know that I believe that either.

I do believe that people in the US are irrational about drugs, guns, and automobiles.[I've heard that automobiles are the major cause of death among children up to five years old. We deal with it by infant seats & airbags, rather like dealing with gunshot deaths by issuing bulletproof vests.]

I believe that strict gun laws do not keep homicides down; does Vermont, which has no gun restrictions at all, have a higher crime rate than New York City or Washington DC?

I believe that drug usage has increased along with the tough drug laws.

"As to your success in warding off trouble by waving a gun, congratulations. Call me back when you have a database of a hundred or so tries to report on. The statistics seem to indicate that showing a gun often leads to the other guy deciding that he needs a bigger one, and that he will not give you a chance next time."

Don't be snotty. I didn't wave the revolver; I don't wave weapons. Nor brandish. I pointed it squarely at the midsection of a man who wanted to hit me in the head with a hatchet, in the hope that it would discourage him. I had said nothing to him, and I was in a doorway, making it difficult to turn & run. Neither of us got hurt, but I think if I myself had, say, a hatchet he could have taken it as a challenge, which would have been ugly.

"…statistics seem to indicate that showing a gun often leads to the other guy deciding that he needs a bigger one, and that he will not give you a chance next time."
I don't think that's a reliable interpretation of the statistics. In any case, it's been 50 years and he hasn't been back yet.

Look, I'd be for prohibiting guns if they'd go away; I just don't believe prohibition laws work, judging by history.

[And the police are not obliged to protect you, even if you have a restraining order on an ex-husband known to be violent. There've been court cases about it.]

clint

The database idea is interesting; I wonder how I could go about it?