Dmitri
07-26-2012, 02:43 PM
Lots of discussion lately everywhere about the second amendment, etc. in the light of the recent terrible events... People complaining about how the US compares so unfavorably to other countries in gun-related deaths, etc., etc.
So as I was poking around in the official stats, I came across these two tables (from FBI) that make for a very interesting comparison.
This table (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl14.xls) shows the number of criminals killed by LEOs in the line of duty, over the course of 5 years.
For 2010, it was 387 total.
This table (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl15.xls) shows the number of criminals killed by private citizens, over the course of 5 years.
For 2010, it was 278 total.
Both are listed as "justifiable homicide".
I think these are very good numbers, in comparison; i.e. 41.8% by private citizens and 58.2% by LEOs. I think this should be a factor as well, when people talk about non-criminal folks in this country having access to firearms and how dangerous that is and all the accidents and all that negative stuff. How about the positive side of these things, for a change... I bet you no other country will come anywhere near that percentage; most "developed" countries will probably have that ratio as something like 5% to 95%, instead of 42% to 58%.
I also noticed this interesting trend, with numbers of citizens protecting themselves and loved ones increasing over the years:
In 2006 it was 238,
in 2007 - 257
in 2008 - 265
in 2009 - 266
in 2010 - 278
Some will probably see it as inefficiency of the police, but I see it differently, -- as citizens helping the police. I prefer to think about it like this: those 278 deaths (in 2010) could have been those of the good guys, instead of the bad guys, had they not stood up for themselves. That's a very good thing, if you ask me, and it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with how efficient the law enforcement is.
Anyhow, just thought I'd share. Tired of all the BS in the media about needing more gun control, etc.
So as I was poking around in the official stats, I came across these two tables (from FBI) that make for a very interesting comparison.
This table (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl14.xls) shows the number of criminals killed by LEOs in the line of duty, over the course of 5 years.
For 2010, it was 387 total.
This table (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl15.xls) shows the number of criminals killed by private citizens, over the course of 5 years.
For 2010, it was 278 total.
Both are listed as "justifiable homicide".
I think these are very good numbers, in comparison; i.e. 41.8% by private citizens and 58.2% by LEOs. I think this should be a factor as well, when people talk about non-criminal folks in this country having access to firearms and how dangerous that is and all the accidents and all that negative stuff. How about the positive side of these things, for a change... I bet you no other country will come anywhere near that percentage; most "developed" countries will probably have that ratio as something like 5% to 95%, instead of 42% to 58%.
I also noticed this interesting trend, with numbers of citizens protecting themselves and loved ones increasing over the years:
In 2006 it was 238,
in 2007 - 257
in 2008 - 265
in 2009 - 266
in 2010 - 278
Some will probably see it as inefficiency of the police, but I see it differently, -- as citizens helping the police. I prefer to think about it like this: those 278 deaths (in 2010) could have been those of the good guys, instead of the bad guys, had they not stood up for themselves. That's a very good thing, if you ask me, and it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with how efficient the law enforcement is.
Anyhow, just thought I'd share. Tired of all the BS in the media about needing more gun control, etc.