Defensive Gun Use Statistics: Self-Defense Cases (2026)

[Musashi]

Report Highlights: There are approximately 102 million gun owners in America. Of those, 0.5% to 2.5% report using firearms for self-defense every year.

• Studies and surveys from 1987 to 2025 suggest instances of defensive gun use range from 65,000 to 2.5 million each year.
• The most conservative defensive gun use estimate from the NCVS is 65,000 per year.
• According to recent surveys, 56% of gun owners state they carry firearms for self-defense.

Defensive Gun Use Statistics: Self-Defense Cases (2026)<!-- --> | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

 

[Annihilator]

Report Highlights: There are approximately 102 million gun owners in America. Of those, 0.5% to 2.5% report using firearms for self-defense every year.

• Studies and surveys from 1987 to 2025 suggest instances of defensive gun use range from 65,000 to 2.5 million each year.
• The most conservative defensive gun use estimate from the NCVS is 65,000 per year.
• According to recent surveys, 56% of gun owners state they carry firearms for self-defense.

Defensive Gun Use Statistics: Self-Defense Cases (2026)<!-- --> | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

Interesting article

 

[trader]

read that. More people that take up legal arms to exercise their rights is good. Better for society in the long run.

 

[southtex]

Agree with Anni it was an interesting read thanks for the article. I would have expected a slightly higher number.

 

[Ozarker]

I like that.....but......not sure I trust anyone's statistics anymore, too much finagling going on, stacking the deck, cheating, lying, fudging, you know, just all kinds of skewed deceptive stuff.

 

[Shibadog]

One also has to wonder how many times just presenting a firearm caused the BG to cease, desist, and leave the area that are never reported. I’m guessing a LOT more than actual “use”-like maybe an order of magnitude or two. I personally have “presented” on three occasions (the last time in 1998)where miscreants quickly saw the error of their ways and exited the scene…

 

[KillerFord1977]

One also has to wonder how many times just presenting a firearm caused the BG to cease, desist, and leave the area that are never reported. I’m guessing a LOT more than actual “use”-like maybe an order of magnitude or two. I personally have “presented” on three occasions (the last time in 1998)where miscreants quickly saw the error of their ways and exited the scene…