CDC restores data on defensive gun use

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently restored information regarding defensive gun use on its website after having removed it in 2022. Previously, the agency cited a 2013 National Academies of Sciences report that provided varying estimates of defensive gun use, ranging from 108,000 annually to survey estimates between 500,000 and 3 million.

Discussions regarding the data highlight the political nature of crime and gun statistics. While the Trump administration has reversed certain data changes made during the Biden administration, concerns remain regarding the politicization of data within the FBI and the Department of Justice. Advocates for gun control have historically sought to challenge the prevalence of defensive gun use, while others argue that federal agencies and media outlets downplay instances where armed citizens prevent public attacks.