Fist fights can often be fatal - "beaten to death" has occurred as many, if not more times, than "shot to death". I've been told by people familiar with guns that they're afraid of knife fights - in a gunfight, it's possible no one dies, but the odds of that in a knife fight are *much* lower.
No, I don't have data on this, but I suppose I could go digging if it's really necessary.
As for defense, it's a fairly simple calculation. Someone coming at me with a knife may be bigger and stronger than me, so if I have a knife as well, he may believe he can take me without risk to himself. Exchange guns for knives in that scenario, and it becomes obvious that size of individual is no longer a factor. The mere *presence* of a gun can change a victim into an intended victim. |
