Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Everytown for Gun Safety’s latest report argues that defensive gun use is “exceedingly rare,” offers no meaningful protection, and carries serious “personal and social risks,” setting the stage for yet another push to convince Americans they’re safer unarmed.
The document leans heavily on selective data, mischaracterized anecdotes, and a familiar narrative: ordinary Americans should trust criminals to behave better while trusting the state to arrive on time.
But the report avoids the most important question: what happens when citizens are left defenseless?
The opening examples — a series of mistaken-identity shootings — are tragedies, not representative of lawful self-defense.
Lumping these incidents into the “defensive gun use” category creates a distorted picture from the start.
Millions of responsible gun owners carry lawfully every day without harming anyone.
Holding them responsible for criminal or negligent acts is no different than blaming sober drivers for the conduct of drunk ones.
Everytown’s report leans on National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) estimates to downplay DGU frequency.
SEE ALSO: What Everytown Taught Me About Gun Safety
But NCVS data are self-reported, limited to incidents where the victim recognized a crime in progress, and incapable of accounting for deterrence, cases where a criminal simply avoids a potentially armed target.
Criminologists have documented for decades that criminals routinely avoid armed victims, and surveys of incarcerated offenders consistently show fear of armed resistance as a major factor in choosing targets.
A crime prevented before it begins never appears in the NCVS.
The report also argues that violent crime is “falling,” as if national averages eliminate personal risk.
Crime trends fluctuate widely by region, and even during periods of national decline, everyday Americans still face carjackings, sexual assaults, home invasions, and armed robberies.
Averages do not stop the worst-case scenario from happening to a single mother parked at a gas station at 10 p.m.
Everytown’s claim that using a gun for self-defense “does not reduce harm” overlooks reality on the ground.
Thousands of verified cases each year show armed citizens stopping violent criminals: carjackers, home invaders, repeat offenders released early, and attackers who would have otherwise continued harming innocent people.
These events are documented by police departments, prosecutors, and local news outlets, and they often involve people who would not have survived without immediate resistance.
The report also reframes the presence of firearms in the home as a threat rather than a safeguard.
SEE ALSO: S&W 940 Review: 9mm J Frame That Runs Hard
Responsible firearm ownership (secure storage, training, and situational awareness) dramatically reduces preventable accidents.
Millions of families keep firearms without incident because safety practices work when they are practiced.
Everytown concludes that Americans should rely on “affordable” security systems (not guns!) and wait for the authorities.
But when seconds matter, a lock, a light, or a camera does not stop an attacker.
Defensive gun use is not a myth, a marketing slogan, or a statistical inconvenience. It is a fundamental right, and, for many Americans, the only thing standing between survival and becoming the next victim in a headline.
Check out the full report below and let us know your thoughts. Are you at all persuaded by Everytown’s report and the data it presents?
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When Michael Bloomberg provides me with the same 24/7 armed security that he has, then MAYBE I’ll CONSIDER not carrying a gun….
But not likely
These organizations are a great example of why the education system does not teach valid history! Students might actually learn what happened in Russia and China many years ago after their revolutions and how the communist’s took control of their societies and how the citizens live lives with limited freedoms!
Wanted to sent Everytown an email describing a personal experience where my being armed kept me safe and sound, unfortunately they put barriers between themselves and real information. They rejected my email 3 times. I gave up. Maybe they will pick this up.
I used to wash my clothing at a laundromat, like many people my home had no facilities. I chose to do this late at night / early in the morning ass there is almost never anyone there – choice of machines, bring in some music, etc etc and I dont mind getting up at odd times to make life a little easier. As I was loading out my washed clothes to kids, no more than 17 or 18, white and middle class by the look, and so drunk they were having trouble walking stumbled up to me and asked for a cigarette. When I told them I did not smoke they became belligerent and demanded money for the same. I declined and entered the laundromat. They did not follow – cameras in the laundromat. When I came out they were down the sidewalk a bit. The larger one growled and kind of yelled and turned towards me, beginning to run. He was about 40 yards or so from me. I placed my laundry on the nearby bench while reaching into my pocket from which I drew a Sig 938 I keep in a pocket holster with one in the chamber and safety on. I held the pistol up so they could see it by its profile. The kid kept running at me, saying something about a knife. I shook my head and leveled the pistol, snapping off the safety as the muzzle dropped. The charging kid’s friend realized what was about to happen and grabbed his friend by the arm, dragging him away from me. Once the pair had gone out of sight down the street I made the weapon safe, placed it in my holster, and drove home where I had three stiff drinks in very quick succession.
My having the weapon and being able to use it in a calm and collected manner affected the outcome of events as follows:
I was not hurt.
The kids were not hurt.
The kids may have learned a lesson on how to behave when drunk.
The fact that the item in my hand was a gun, not a knife or a cell phone, made all the difference in this situation.
An armed population is a polite population.
Much of the problem with guns is created by lack of understanding and education.
Mandatory gun safety classes in every junior highschool with hands on training, thats what we need.
Everytown is full of shit and liberal propaganda. Guns are used over 2 million times annually by armed citizens to protect lives and propertry. It is just not reported or totally ignored by the liberal media. Back this up with 5 decades of law enforcement experience on 3 continents!
The Time is at hand. Why are you even trying to reason trying through with “them?”
The divide has happened, there is no more unity, no gray area, no compromising, no give and take, it is done. God has lifted His hand and care from this country. We have the 2nd Amendment, that is all. We are going to be exercising it on a national level soon, if we want to keep the Republic. Law enforcement isnt going to be able to deal with the chaos that is coming. Charlie Kirk was the first shot fired, it’s the one heard ’round the country.
What an incredible waste of resources, stay out of my life because you will want me stay out of yours. I have had enough of these lost looking leftists.
They can not rule an armed populace and ruling with absolute power is the only goal communist democrats, armed we are citizens, disarmed we are subjects! Everytown is just another communist democrats front group.
Well, by all means, get rid of your guns just as Hyman Marxvinsky tells you to.
Just like in the old country (USSR)
I don’t know why everyone is so upset, any gun control law just has to state that no one with a net worth of more than $1 million is allowed to own a gun and their security forces are unarmed as well. This Bloomberg idiot is relentless and like California divorce court, every time you go in, the costs should be higher. In Newport RI if there is a noise complaint you get a warning, a second, $500 fine a third, $1000 fine then arrest. If they keep burdening our courts then each filing should add a decimal place. $1 million for the first, $10 million the $100 then 1 billion, then $10 billion. maybe when he sells everything he owns and lives in a cardboard box he will finally end his paranoia that we all want to steal from him with our guns.
LOOKING AT THAT BUNCH, I SEE A CROWD OF HYSTERICAL FOOLS. THE “USUAL SUSPECTS.”
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, DISARM? IN THIS LOONEY TUNES COUNTRY TO DISARM IS TO HAVE A DEATH-WISH.
YOU DISARM…..
Well They may want us to believe their ridiculous statement/theory…but I’m still here and I won’t disarm…Those people are idiots with no thinking ability…or maybe just say…below average
I recall doug-and-bob mackenxze explaining how fire dosent burn by heat, it freezes things.
The thing is, they were joking and knew we knew it.
But making things up is still making things up. A twist to an oppo fact became spin, such a twist they got to putting on things.
Every town is wrong , I would have been seriously injured or killed by a bull mastiff and a Rottweiler that killed all my chickens and then turned on me when I caught them in the act . I shot the mastiff in the face with a 1911 – .45 acp the third time he lunged at me trying to bite me . So this proves guns can and are used for defense against vicious animals . There are also many cases where guns were used in defense against vicious criminals also . Everytown refuses to look at the data that proves these cases of self defense and they create their own data to support their false narratives.
The left at nauseatism continues to say if it happens one time then that is one time to many. If it fits their narrative. This would indicate that their belief is a victim should stay a victim no matter the consequences. Why is it the left feels the need to protect and preserve criminal activities.
So can it be said, if a firearm defends a situation, then more would be better.
I quit reading the report after clicking on the source notes and nothing coming up. Totally subjective with with no backup.
I wonder if Bloomberg insists that his security detail has no guns…..
When Hurricane Sandy hit NYC, Bloomberg (Oy!) mandated the deployed National Guard troops be unarmed. “No one but NYPD will have guns in NYC streets!” Bloom-Heim shrilled. In other words, his thugs will be armed and his alone.
I happen to know from personal experience that they’re full of sh*t.
That picture of silvervspoon fed Bloomburg and his flock of sacrificial subjects is all you need to see.
Dont need to read the article.
Not only are those people as dumb as a box of rocks, they are dangerous people to live and raise a family around.
Having a different opinion about something is one thing, living around people that are so ignorant that it puts you and your family in danger is another.
Maybe these people that want to Disarm Americans should move to a country where the Citizens aren’t armed and see how much they don’t like it. Once that 2nd Amendment disappears so do most of the other rights we have. Why these people don’t understand that is beyond me, thye ll live in Fairy tale land.
Based upon Everytown’s excellent conclusions, I have decided to discard all
the fire extinguishers in all my properties. I’m going to trust the flames to
extinguish themselves.
I’d rather safely HAVE my firearm , NEVER NEED my firearm Than, NEED and NEVER HAVE my firearm. You Antifirearms people will never understand until violence threatens you or your family. Good guys with firearms STOP bad people who want to commit violence. Nuff said!
Exactly
Dear Everytown and Mr. Bloomberg:
When you have removed all weapons from all criminals; when you have removed all criminals, and all those who will intend to commit a violent crime, from the streets, I will consider appearing to listen to your point of view. Until that time, you are expected to post 5’x3′, “GUN FREE ZONE” signs, in 6 inch white lettering over a black background, on the front lawns at your homes.
TTFN,
A concerned American citizen
Everytown speaking on gun use and gun safety is like a special needs 3rd grader trying to explain aviation and aerodynamics to their pet turtle.
Why would anyone want to be a victim of a violent crime? How could any father or mother watch harm come to any of there family members. Remember this an unarmed person is an easy target. The past two weeks I sat on a capitol murder trial where two people shot and killed a man at the door of his apartment.
Every American should be able to open/conceal carry, their choice. Having said that every American starting in approximately the 8th grade should receive a mandatory course on Gun history in America, gun safety, gun awareness, gun types and uses. Contact your representatives make this happen.
Note: Muslim ideology has made it clear the overthrow of our Constitutional Republic & Free Markets is their goal resulting in Shariah law & I
Elimination of all infidels. 😡😡😡🇺🇸
There are two very important events which actually prove that banning guns saves no lives: When guns were banned in the U.K. and Australia, there was no precipitous drop in the MURDER RATE which is ALL murders, with ANY weapon. The Murders done with guns dropped right off: no guns, no “gun deaths”, but the people MURDERED without firearms are still DEAD and were MURDERED just the same! The bleeding heart Left ignoring MURDER VICTIMS? WOW! if you needed ammo, there is your 30MM.
“GUN VIOLENCE/GUN DEATH” is disinformation used to hide the MURDER RATE and claim victory when the only thing that really changed was the MURDER WEAPON because the same number of people were MURDERED, with other objects after the bans in both Countries. John Lott Jr. says the same. I do not know why the pro-gun people in this Nation, do not use this information to expose the big Anti gun lie.
Our rights are not gifted to us by the government. not legislatively, not judicialy. and making laws restricting them in any way is a violation of the Bill of Rights their oaths of offiice and federal law.