Did you get any information on the number of crimes foiled by armed
citizens without a single shot being fired or anyone at all hurt? You might
like to have a look as it makes interesting reading.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Ian Cameron
Sent: Thu, April 01, 1999 7:21 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Guns and their utility

Re the discussion over whether or not to take a gun on a trip.  Several
years ago the Canadian government started talking about stricter gun
controls,  thus occasioning considerable controversy.  For purposes of one
of the sociology courses I teach, I started tracking all gun-related
stories in the 16 searchable newspapers in our library.  Here you go:
                                        US              Canada

Number of wounds or deaths:             4561            228
Domestic related:                       1240            86
Hunting accidents:                      1116            78
Unloaded guns:                  875             21
Murders, robbery, etc.          788             14
Mass shootings                  386             14
Police                                  82              10
Protection of property (business)       41              1
Protection of property (home)   12              0
Protection of self                      0               0
Misc                                    21              4

Conclusions: If you carry a gun it's not likely to save your life, but
there's a chance someone near and dear will shoot you with it.