Are there studies that show-?

[digonswine]

how many crimes are not thwarted because a person who could have successfully intervened did not do so due to the fear of confronting a criminal that has a gun?
Most people will not carry a gun. Even with one, confronting a criminal with a gun would be VERY dangerous, certainly.

If one could be reasonably sure that a criminal has no gun, I would think that one would be more likely to confront the criminal.

This is an anti-gun stance-not a pro-gun one.

I have thought through how I might deal with a domestic violence situation. If I would confront the violent person in this country, I would stand a reasonable chance of getting shot. Thus, I might not confront the person.

I know there are no such studies. My idea is that this is a much more likely situation with which to be confronted than one where I could use my (non-existent) gun to stop a crime.

I only thought of this because I watched a movie that took place in Canada, where a person confronts, and kicks out, a potential date-rapist. While watching this interaction, my first reaction was that this would be unlikely here in America, as the criminal could likely be armed.

[Recursion]

1. People won't call the police when a woman is being repeatedly stabbed in the courtyard below

Just sayin'

(Actually that whole story is more complex than the story that came down to us, but still.)

[digonswine]

4. I think that has more to with the idea that-

we tend to assume someone else has done, or will deal with it. Part of the crowd mentality.

I was referring to an emergent situation in front of us.

[jody]

2. Yes although you or others will reject them. From google

http://www.guncite.com/gun_control_gcdguse.html

[digonswine]

5. Can you possibly reduce this into something that-

deals directly with the situations I brought up?

[jody]

6. "the Department of Justice sponsored a survey in 1994 titled, Guns in America: National Survey on

Private Ownership and Use of Firearms (text, PDF). Using a smaller sample size than Kleck's, this survey estimated 1.5 million DGU's annually."

[digonswine]

9. Please re-read my post. I am NOT talking about DGU's.

I admit-I am asking something that you cannot answer and I can't either.

Please see my post #7.

I find it hard to believe that, given the smallish number of gun owners, that more than 1% of people per year avoid a problem with a flash of the gun.

This has nothing to do with my OP, but I think this percentage is much too high. And this is assuming a 50% gun-ownership rate. At this rate, I feel lucky I have not had to brandish my 20 gauge against an intruder at least twice by now. I guess I'm lucky.

[jody]

10. I answered OP question. nt

[digonswine]

11. Perhaps I miss something-

It was a bit rhetorical- how can we calculate the number of crimes that were NOT stopped by people that would have otherwise done so, but that did not, due to the reasonable fear of confronting a guy with a gun?

This is either with or without a gun for the person intervening.

Again-I can't expect you or anyone else to answer this. It is just something to consider. I am damn sure I would consider it if it was me.

[Warpy]

3. On the day of a dinner party in Boston

I was coming home with a full backpack of food and a grocery bag in front, very loaded down. As I got ready to enter the foyer of the building, I saw a couple of guys in the glass starting to follow me in.

I decided if they were going to do anything, they could bloody well do it on the street, right in front of gawd and everybody, so I whirled around and looked right in their faces with a big shiteating grin on my face and said "Well, HI THERE!"as I came back down the steps.

They both turned and ran down the street. I was halfway to the apartment complex office when the guns they had pointed at me registered.

Shit.

[digonswine]

7. I think surprise and confusion helps-

but I was talking about a single person's decision to take action in a crime or event that does not necessarily involve them.

Admittedly, what I am wondering about is not measurable in any way.

I wonder this because of the pro-gun argument whereby a gun-toting hero saves the day. I wonder how many potential crimes/rapes/assaults, etc happen because unarmed(most of us) bystanders or witnesses are unwilling to take the chance of going against a gun in this gun-rich country.

[Warpy]

12. All I know is that unpredictability has served me very well.

This isn't the only story I have about doing something weird and getting away from bad guys with my virtue and wallet both intact. It's just the most dramatic one.

If I'd pulled a gun out, I'd be dead. So, I imagine, would anyone who had come to my rescue with a gun.

[Flabbergasted]

8. Wow! How long before you quit shaking. Nt