This statistic does NOT include the number of deterred potential crimes (crimes that did NOT occur) because the criminals suspected that the potential victim might have a gun. If criminals KNEW that their potential victims did not have quick access to a gun, the crime statistics would be MUCH worse. People who NOT have a gun in their home should be very thankful for the millions of people who DO have a gun in their homes. The criminals don’t know who has a gun and who doesn’t, and so are less likely to strike. Deterrence is the first, and perhaps the most important, step in the crime process.
Exactly why gun registration records should NOT be accessible to gov’t employees. Better yet, gun registration should be banned, but background check is OK by me to weed out past criminal behavior, but after passing the background check, no record should be kept of who owns guns and who does not.