Home Invasion Questions

Doubtful. Also doubtful is whether you’ll be able find a definitive answer. I can say that the two most common citations for a statement similar to this given by gun control groups are based on studies for which the methodology is questionable.

In the first, it is claimed that a gun in the home is “43 times more likely to kill a family member than a crimimal.” This comes from a 1986 study by Arthur Kellerman published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The deaths in the study include suicides. In fact, the suicides comprise a whopping 86% of the total deaths (36 of 43) included here. There are many, many studies over many regions worldwide which show that suicide rates show no positive correlation with the availability of guns.

In the other widely distributed claim, it is said that "58% of murder victims are killed by either relatives or acquaintances. This claim comes out of the same flawed Kellerman study. In this instance “relatives and acquaintances” can mean: participants in a drug deal; a prostitute & her/his customer; cab drivers & their fares. The claim also glosses over the fact that over 70% of the deceased among those murdered have prior convictions for criminal activity.