U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief
Guns and Crime: Handgun Victimization, Firearm Self-Defense, and
Firearm Theft
April 1994, NCJ-147003
Revised 9/24/02 th
Full text with tables available from:
Bureau of Justice Statistics Clearinghouse
800-732-3277 (fax number for report orders and mail list signup
only: 410-792-4358)
Box 6000
Annapolis Junction, MD. 20701-0179
By Michael R. Rand, BJS Statistician
...
On average in 1987-92 about 83,000 crime victims per year used a
firearm to defend themselves or their property. Three-fourths of
the victims who used a firearm for defense did so during a violent
crime; a fourth, during a theft, household burglary, or motor
vehicle theft.
Handguns and crime, 1987-92
Annual
average,
1992 1987-91
___________________
Handgun crimes 930,700 667,000
Homicide 13,200 10,600
Rape 11,800 14,000
Robbery 339,000 225,100
Assault 566,800 417,300
Note: Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Data for
homicide come from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports.