Civilians use firearms in lawful self-defense about 2.5 million times a year in the United States. In about 92 percent of these cases, a firearm is merely displayed, with no shot fired, so most such incidents are not reported to police or the press. This fact helps create a false impression known to criminologists as "the police chiefs' fallacy." In most cases where the police become involved, the defender failed, so police officers may develop the sincere belief that civilians are incapable of defending themselves. This has been shown as false by numerous research studies.

On this page we list links to recent examples of defensive gun uses ("DGUs") that were reported to police and the press.

Robber shot dead in East Hartford (Conn.) November 2001

Shopkeeper pulls gun to fend off robbers (New Milford, Conn.)

Intruder killed by homeowner

Shopper cuts holdup short (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Bystander thwarts two robbers at store (Indianapolis, Ind.)

Killingworth (Conn.) man surprises intruder

Armed citizen proves value of Kentucky's new concealed-carry law

"Copycat" attack thwarted with handgun purchased earlier in day (Lavonia, Ga.)

Armed resident kills burglar (Chattanooga, Tenn.)

Gun-shop employee prevents massacre (Santa Clara, Calif.)

Twelve-year-old saves grandmother from robber (Compton, Calif.)

Homeowner turns tables on man who broke into building (Waterbury, Conn.)

Armed man beats back home invasion (Atlanta, Ga.)

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