How many do guns defend?

By Larry Elder -- The Washington Times Published September 5, 2005, with Mongo's emphasis added:

"Joyce Cordoba, 46, stood behind the deli counter while working at a Wal-Mart in Albuquerque, N.M. Suddenly, her ex-husband -- against whom Mrs. Cordoba had a restraining order -- showed up, jumped over the deli counter, and began stabbing her. Due Moore, a 72-year-old Wal-Mart customer, witnessed the violent attack. Mr. Moore, legally permitted to carry a concealed weapon, pulled out his gun and shot and killed the former husband. Mrs. Cordoba survived the brutal attack and is recovering from her wounds.

This raises a question. How often do Americans use guns for defensive purposes? In 2003, we know 12,548 people died through nonsuicide gun violence, including homicides, accidents and cases of undetermined intent.

University of California-Los Angeles professor emeritus James Q. Wilson, a respected expert on crime, police practices and guns, says: 'We know from Census Bureau surveys that something beyond a 100,000 uses of guns for self-defense occur every year. We know from smaller surveys of a commercial nature that the number may be as high 2.5 million or 3 million.

We don't know what the right number is, but whatever the right number is, it's not a trivial number.' ...