Reply #27: "The 1986 study concluded: Every time a gun is used

[jazzhound]

in self-defense, it is 43 times more likely to be used in a homicide, suicide, or accidental shooting."

False. This is the conclusion of the 1986 study:

Conclusions:
Ratio of killed by stranger to killed by person known = 12:1
Ratio of accidental deaths to self-protection homocides = 1.3:1
Ratio of criminal homocides to self-protection homocides = 4.6:1
Ratio of suicides to self-protection homocides = 37:1
Ratio of suicides, criminal homocides, and accidental deaths
to homocides for self-protection = 43:1

So the truth of the matter is that Kellerman was comparing homicides to homicides --- not simple defensive gun uses to homicides. This is important because he's willfully distorting his results by comparing the burglar body count to friends and family members killed by guns in the home fully aware that burglars are infrequently killed by homeowners through defensive gun uses. EDITED TO ADD: As a sidenote --- how is it that Kellerman seems to think that the purpose of defensive gun use is to kill burglars rather than to defend the homeowner from assault? (Where's a loving liberal when you need one!!)

And yes -- still there is difference in the stated conclusions. Given the justifiable beat-down he received for his '43 times' "study", it's pretty obvious to me that he was trying to walk back with his '2.7' "study". Your mileage may vary.

Care to address the critique of the 2.7 "study" furnished by X_Digger?