“Defensive uses of guns by crime victims is a common occurrence, although the exact number remains disputed (Cook and Ludwig, 1996; Kleck, 2001a). Almost all national survey estimates indicate that defensive gun uses by victims are at least as common as offensive uses by criminals, with estimates of annual uses ranging from about 500,000 to more than 3 million per year (Kleck, 2001a), in the context of about 300,000 violent crimes involving firearms in 2008 (BJS, 2010). On the other hand, some scholars point to radically lower estimate of only 108,000 annual defensive uses based on the National Crime Victimization Survey (Cook et al., 1997). The variation in these numbers remains a controversy in the field. The estimate of 3 million defensive uses per year is based on an extrapolation from a small number of responses taken from more than 19 national surveys. The former estimate of 108,000 is difficult to interpret because respondents were not asked specifically about defensive gun use.

So, the number lies somewhere between 100,000 and 3,000,000. Even if one were to take the low-end estimate of 108,000, that’s three times the number of fatalities that result from homicides or suicides, and it’s nearly ten times the number of firearm-related homicides. If 100,000 is such an immense number for Costello when used to sum up “gun violence” why is it a negligible number when used to describe defensive use of firearms (as with this defensive use at a South Carolina night club in June)?”

Priorities for Research to Reduce the Threat of Gun-Related Violence

BTW, Scientific American magazine reported that over 250,000 people die every year from botched medical practices, go Google and check it out.

I don’t think a fire extinguisher is going to be all that handy when you have to fiddle around with the pin, the hose and trying to aim for the face of an intruder. Calling 911 is going to summon help that is at best minutes away when you need immediate help.

Inviting an intruder to go face down on the floor at the business end of a shotgun can be a pretty convincing tool for any homeowner.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/laciana-tinsley-douglas-tinsley-murder-fire-extinguisher/

Just saying

I might buy stock in aluminum since some of these folks undoubtedly line their interior walls with aluminum foil

That said:

Minimum age for a carry permit should be about age 25. A stupid people test should be administered. Those showing signs of incapacity of good judgment should be denied (Hot Heads). Perhaps show them an episode of Jerry Springer, if they seem to be entertained and excited by the show then no permit. Certified alcoholic? No permit. Also Rx and illegal drug use screening because a yuge number of people pop pills and are in a haze 24/7. Controlled substance or black label drug use disqualifies, even if legit.

Carry-a-gun permit needs a lot more training on the law and consequences for errors. A lot more stupid people screening too. As was recently demonstrated by a Boise roadrage shooting and resulting murder trial. Untrained and/or unstable and/or stupid people with a gun and a carry permit think it gives them special powers. They become more brazen. They do not try to avoid or minimize a conflict because they think they are special with their permit and gun. They don’t know the law. They escalate problems. They go to jail. They lose large civil judgments. Here’s your sign!

I am pro gun, NRA, etc. but I try to go to the range when very few of the typical fools with a permit are there because way too many are careless reckless incompetent fools. I absolutely can’t stand reading the NRA magazines because they are so full of huff-n-puff marketing BS directed to these fools.

Careful with the oven cleaner, the nozzle is easy to point at self. Wasp spray is a safer design.

EDITOR NOTE–If memory serves, permits are no longer required in Idaho for concealed carry. The ENHANCED permit will allow concealed carry in places like college campuses.