Justifiable Homocides

[1a2b3c]

Someone asked about self defense with firearms statistics. I cannot find a number that shows how many times a defensive use of a firearm happens without a shot being fired or a number where shots are fired and no one is killed. I can however find a number of justifiable homocides by police and citizens. I am posting this thread so the said poster can see the numbers.

Justifiable Homicide
by Weapon, Law Enforcement,1 2001
2001 total= 370
Total firearms= 368
Handguns= 311
rifles= 25
shotguns= 11
Firearm not stated= 21
knives= 0
Other dangerous weapons= 2
Personal weapons= 0


Justifiable Homicide
by Weapon, Private Citizen,1 2001
Total= 215
Total Firearms= 176
Handguns= 136
rifles= 10
shotguns= 13
Firearms not stated= 17
knives= 25
Other dangerous weapons= 6
Personal weapons= 8

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_01/01crime2.pdf This is from tables 2.16 and 2.17

From the looks of these numbers firearms seem to be the best weapon for self defense and handguns are the best firearm to use. I would guess that knives are not the number one choice for self defense. From 1997 to 2001 not one single police officer had a justifiable homocide with a knife. In 2001 1.49 people a day were justifiably killed in self defense with a firearm.

[funkyflathead]

1. Cops aren't allowed to use knives as weapons as I understand it

Big no-no for LEOs.

(correct me if I'm wrong)

[jhfenton]

3. Knives

I'm not sure they are prohibited, but they don't fall under the typical use of force continuum. Knives constitute deadly force, the same as sidearms. If cops are forced to use deadly force, then they are going to use their most effective tools, their sidearms. Knives would only come into play in very unusual circumstances -- e.g., where a gun malfunctions.

Every cop I know does carry a knife, though. They are very useful tools, even if they are never used as weapons. I carry one daily myself, though all it ever does is cut open boxes.

[DoNotRefill]

2. Hmmmm....

I'm wondering how they compile their statistics. Does it have to be ruled a "justifiable homicide"? If so, that wouldn't include cases where the person was charged with manslaughter, but wasn't convicted, but the jury gave no reason for the not guilty verdict. It also wouldn't include cases where the prosecutor's office declined to prosecute.

[Lefty48197]

4. Oops sorry!

I thought this was just another NRA attempt to justify Tim McVeigh's "freedom fighting". My bad.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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