Debating the GunLoons (Part Mm(continued))
More on DGUs.
As noted previously, Kleck’s studies WRT DGUs have a lot of problems. One problem that hasn’t been discussed is their subjectivity. IOW, what is a DGU?
Apparently, it’s like asking people their definition of morality; ask 100 people and you’d probably get 99 different answers.
Here is the question asked by Kleck in his anonymous phone survey:
“Within the past five years, have you yourself or another member of your household used a gun, even if it was not fired, for self-protection or for the protection of property at home, work, or elsewhere? Please do not include military service, police work, or work as a security guard.”
As one can readily see, this question allows much subjectivity. For instance, a respondent might have heard a noise outside, one night, took his forearm and investigated and found nothing. The noise didn’t reoccur. Is that a DGU? A respondent could answer yes. Or another example: say some good ol’ boys were playing cards one night and drinking. During the course of the game, tempers frayed and one party threatened another. A gun was produced and the threat was deterred. Is that a DGU? Per Kleck’s question, it could be. One could easily see how domestic disputes where a gun was brandished could be deemed a DGU.
So on and so forth.
