From Wikipedia, not the most trusted name in factoids, but none the less:

Some (but not all) states publish statistics indicating how many people acquire permits to carry concealed weapons, and their demographics. Reported permit-holders are predominantly male. For example, while over 60,000 women were licensed in Florida as of June 2007[update], 85% of permit holders were male in that state.[45] The number of permit-holders has been growing. Michigan, for example, reported more than 40,000 applications in a one year period.[46] Florida has issued over 1.2 million permits since adopting the law, and has had more than 400,000 currently-licensed permit holders as of June 2007[update].[47]

Distribution by age is generally proportionate to the overall state adult population. In Florida, 26% of permit-holders are in the 21–35 age group, 36% are 36–50, 27% are 51–65, and 11% are over age 65. The numbers of permit revocations are small. North Carolina reports only 0.2% of their 263,102 holders had their license revoked in the 10 years since they have adopted the law.[48]

Permit holders are a remarkably law-abiding subclass of the population. Florida, which has issued over 1,346,000 permits in twenty years, has revoked only 165 for a "crime after licensure involving a firearm," and fewer than 4,200 permits for any reason.[49]



The people who have a license aren't the ones you have to worry about.

Statistics are BS? That defeats the purpose of discussion then.

While I agree that the collection and presentation of statistics is vital to their validity and that they can easily be misrepresented or misinterpreted, statistics are not BS.

Things like "more than 6 industrialized countries combined" are vague an not very valuable statistics since clearly the 6 industrialized countries that have been chosen could well be teeny tiny ones.

Even this statistic is suspect because it could be comparing 1621 Germany to 2007 USA. It didn't say the years were the same.



These are pretty interesting statistics and seem to be pretty straight-up



Where in the hell is Wouter?

"Home invasions" or burglary as we call it here are not uncommon. But they seek cash or easy to fence items and hit homes without people.”

See…this part of the problem Rolf…What we call a home invasion here is not a simple burglary…it is violent criminals breaking into you house why you/your family are at home sometimes raping the wife or daughters in front of the Father after beating him to a pulp…or just killing them all for no reason…there is a gang in Orlando Florida right now, where to get into the gang you have to either rape a woman or kill someone.

My step daughter lives in a nice condo community in Orlando and the couple across her court yard had there home invaded in the middle of the day.

Home invasion is not a simple burglary. No normal person would ever want to take a life if there is a way to avoid it…however If someone comes into my home…with the intent to commit violence on me or a family member… I view their threatening actions as conformation that they have consciously chosen... with forethought …to voluntarily forfeit their life in exchange for whatever perverse pleasure they sought by doing bodily harm to my family.

I know absolutely nothing about where you live…and it sounds like you are not too up to speed with what goes on in the US either (you don’t really believe the propaganda you get on TV do you?) So why don’t you just be happy with your gun free country and I will be happy in a country that (at least for the moment) allows me the freedom to defend myself with a firearm of my choice within the confines of the law. That way we can both be happy…

Regards,
Bob

The WHO gives, what I presume are, accurate statistics, including percentages. See pages 322 and 323.
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/en/annex.pdf
Albania is worse than the US.

I thought it was zits.

Interesting read. I couldn't help but notice the data on firearm deaths was from 1998. Curious what it is for 2007.

At Front Sight Fire Arms training they teach you that if your acosted on the street by a gun wielding common criminal, and he doesn't have you in his grasp, to run away in a zig-zag pattern. Your chances of being hit, if he does even attempt to shoot at you, are less than 5%, chances of that shot being fatal? Next to nothing. Too bad firearms training is not mandatory and more readily available. Waterbug obviously knows the drill.

As Jeremy noted, firearms have been a part of American life right up to the baby boomer generation, especially in rural areas where even the girls were taught to handle a weapon right along with the boys. My mother-in-laws nickname is Annie Oakley.

"My mother-in-laws nickname is Annie Oakley."
Funny thats my wifes nick name at the gun range...when the range master comes up to you and says I wouldn't want to make your wife mad...you know she is a good shot...LOL

One of her favorite expressions is "Watch it buddy I can turn you from a rooster into a hen in one shot...LOL

Regards,
Bob

Have you tried it, or do you personally know anybody who has? Good luck with it!

Where they there to rape and kill, or to steal? Hope the couple was not hurt. Would having a handgun in safe storage have helped? Would carrying a piece have helped?
Sounds like that is fear talking again.

So now I am an butt becouse I back up my opinion with my experience? I thought this was about guns, gun control and the second amendment, not me. Nice to take the man instead of the ball.

Rolf: Why are you so worked up over this? I would really like to know as I have come to respect your opinions.

We Americans do lots of weird ****. I eat grits for instance! But for the most part, we are pretty decent, law abiding folks.

Try this: first think of a Coyote and Roadrunner cartoon, then imagine Karl holed up in his bunker defying the 1st Armored Division!

Peace, bubba!

Hey Pete,
Looks like we are going to be wrong about Gitmo closing 1st thing.... Obama Administration is making rumblings about "things not as they imagined". Apparently they are learning about the supposedly safe releasee's who end up being recaptured on the battlefield and they are concerned about the blowback if one they release turns out to be another Richard Reid or Mohammed Atta. They even seem to be changing their views on the waterboarding as well.

This is going to be interesting!

Just wondering.....How come you are worried about Rolf getting worked up but for others you are willing to buy them a beer? Says volumes.

Who is this "we" you speak of?

Rolf doesn't propound psuedo-conservative, "I shouldn't have to pay taxes" and "the world owes me a huge proift so I can be rich like Bill Gates" nonsense.

You and your fellow travelers have damn near ruined the Country! You get no quarter from me!

Would you mind explaining WHO you are quoting here and WHEN that was said? I'm certain you will be exposed by your inability to do so.

I'd also like to know what group you are classifying me with that has "damn near ruined this country".
I have NEVER been in Congress!

You didn't say those things? My bad.

The next time you "hoist a glass", think of Willie Horton.

???????

Me thinks you've been "hoisten" them early and often....
Please don't drive today.

Greg

(What Michael Dukakis has to do with this I'll never know)

I'm a reactive/snap shooter. Last spring I was having a hay day shooting pocket gophers near my shop from the pickup, (they don't pay any attention to vehicular traffic and stay above ground), I was using a .22 pistol, fired at it two or three times and didn't hit it. The little sucker took off running finally, he was twice as far away as when I started, and I dropped him full run. LOL I'm the same way shooting clays, if I gotta aim at a moving target, I'm going to miss most of the time. Just hope the thief isn't like me I guess.

let's look at it this way, depends on your mindset

when approaching or being approached by a "homeless" person on the street asking for money do you?

a) give him a couple of bucks
b) give him $5
c) give him $10
d) oh dammit, I've gone totally plastic, I'll give him the $25 gift card I just bought for my niece.

when approaching or being approached by a "vagrant" on the street asking for money do you?

a) offer him a ride to the soup kitchen
b) offer him a ride to rehab
c) offer him $20 for raking leaves in your yard for a couple of hours
d) keep walking because you already know the answer to a), b) and c)

So...this poor guy, with a gun, needs your wallet, watch and car keys worse than you do and you willingly hand it all over. Then this crack head, jerk pops you in the belly anyway.

I'd play the odds.

Is this the old definition of a Conservative?
A Conservative is a Liberal that just got mugged....

Much the same way that a conservationist is someone who just finished building his house in the country.