Our new favorite commenter, Frail Liberty, said no one believe that 2.5 million lives are saved each year by the defensive use of guns. Even Kleck's study said the figure would be about 160,000.
My response:
I can assure you, FL, many of the pro-gun uninformed believe that 2.5 million lives are saved a year. They believe that because they've read it and have repeated it so often themselves that it's taken on an aura of truth.
You're smarter than that. Great. Good for you. So how about this for an idea. Of the 162,000, since the poll was getting its info from the defender, how many do you think were really unnecessary and/or criminal? None?
My idea is that, given human nature and the obvious temptation to paint the picture in its best light, anyone who describes a defensive use of a gun has about a 50% chance of being a liar. In other words, only half of the reported DGUs are really legit. The others are criminal acts disguised.
