In this gun debate rarely is it spoken about how many lives are saved because of guns.
Oh, it's been studied and discussed over and over and over again. People routinely view themselves as some sort of perfect decision-making superman, ready to save the day with their concealed weapon. In reality, even highly trained armed people, like police officers, make a lot of mistakes when under pressure.
I am not anti-gun in the least. I grew up using shotguns and rifles on a farm, and my Dad had a handgun that he taught me to shoot, too. That doesn't mean than anyone who wants an AR-15 ought to get one.
The sad and proven fact are that these are outomes of owning a gun, in order of likelihood, most to least.
1) Nothing really happens: you never use it to stop a crime and nobody is hurt or injured by it. If it's a weapon used for hunting or target practice, you get some occasional enjoyment out of ownership.
2) A near-miss accident makes you diligent and strive to better secure the weapon.
3) A situation arises where maybe you could have used the gun, but you don't have it, don't access it in time, or freeze.
4) The weapon is stolen.
5) A gun accident injures or kills you, a loved one, or a family member.
6) An attempted self-defense firing injures innocent bystanders.
7) Kate Upton invites you over to show her your guns and fulfill her needs.
8) You use it perfectly to save lives from marauding thugs and Boilermakers.