The October 2012 issue of Outdoor Life has a personal defense section in it with some interesting information that I thought I'd share. They reference a study of "almost 500 civilian self-defense incidents" that found the following:

50% of the attacks occured at home, 30% at work and the remaining in public places, usually parking lots.

Most of the time the distance was 12 feet or less.

Shots were fired "in fewer than 80% of the attacks". The bad guys usually ran, if they still could.

62% of the guns used were .38 Special or 9mm. 24% were .380 or smaller. 14% were .40 or larger.

Honestly I was surprised at the percentage of attacks that were at home. I would have thought that most would have been when out and about. Maybe my belief was due to under reporting of home defenses and over reporting of public incidents by the media.

The distances involved aren't as surprising, especially given the percentage of attacks occuring at home. I know that the farthest shot I would have inside my home is maybe 24 feet.

I'm not surprised that the crooks ran when presented with something more like a fair fight.

It looks like most folks picked guns that gave them a balance of power and control. I don't think the "casual" gun owner probably shoots enough to master the harder kicking handguns.

I do wish that OL gave us the actual source of the study.

An interesting set of stats Punkin.

It doesn't surprise me that most incidents happened in the home mate...we are hearing more and more of home invasions these days. Its good that people were prepared and ready for these scumbags.

Cheers, Vince

Thanks for posting, PKslinger. Very interesting data. It only references handguns but, with 50% of the incidents occur at home, I would have thought that shotguns and ARs maked the list.

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

The distances involved aren't as surprising, especially given the percentage of attacks occuring at home. I know that the farthest shot I would have inside my home is maybe 24 feet.

Another interesting item: Many states regard a knife or a club as being less "deadly" than a firearm and consider less than 21 feet as the arbitrary distance considered as lethal range and require retreat rather than the use of lethal force if the distance is over 21 feet. It has been proven that a reasonably fit person can cover that distance in about the same amount of time it takes a trained person's reaction time to draw, acquire the target and fire. Less practiced individuals could clearly be in trouble. Some of those same states are re-thinking their restrictions. There is much to be said about "Castle Doctrine" or, as my CCW instructor called it, "The Right to Fight".

Ah SingleshotLover...You are not allowed to have handguns in Illinois, Are You?

Here in Missouri I don't have to run and hide. We have a very effective "stand your ground" law.

Pumpkinslinger stated a very good reason that I carry in my house or have a firearm within reach at all times, 24/7.

Me? Paranoid? No...I use to be, but now I carry a .45 ACP.

Bushmaster wrote:

I carry in my house or have a firearm within reach at all times, 24/7.

I didn't see one in the picture of you and your horse you just posted?

I believe the word "concealed" means concealed. Right?

Besides I'm working with him at that moment and the last thing I need is a gun on my side when he desides I need an "unauthorized" dismount.

Would this do...??

Bushmaster wrote:

but now I carry a .45 ACP.

I just knew there was one thing I liked about Gramps.

Bushy, is that you and the right before your facial hair turned gray?

It's been gray sense 1998. as I recollect.

Bushmaster wrote:

now I carry a .45 ACP.

My mistake, it didn't look like a .45 ACP in the guy's holster on the left. Plus, I thought you always wore a white hat.

I don't own a white hat and that's a Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum.

Bushmaster wrote:

I don't own a white hat and that's a Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum.

what, no white hat?!? And that is such a "punny" caliber. Your image is slipping again.

(What is the color of the hat in your avatar?)

Straw...

.357 magnum punny? The two deer (Blacktails) that I shot with a 4 3/4" Colt .357 magnum were lung, heart, lung with the bullet lodged in the far lung. Both recovered bullets were a perfect mushroom with jackets still intact. Thank you very much.

Im not gunna cry honest....
NZ used to allow a handgun per household for home defence, what a giant leap backwards it was to remove them!!!