Criminals utilize a diverse array of weapons to facilitate their unlawful acts, with firearms and knives being the most prevalent, as per FBI data. The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) serves as an essential instrument for tracking weapon usage in violent crimes. After a violent incident, victims are queried regarding the assailant's weapon use.
Data from the 2009 NCVS provides enlightening insights into the types and frequency of weapon use in criminal acts.
| 22% of criminals were equipped with a knife, gun, or another object in all violent crimes. | ||||
| 8% of violent crimes in 2009 involved the use of a firearm by offenders. | ||||
| 47% of robberies featured an armed criminal, marking the highest percentage among crime categories. | ||||
| 28% of these robberies were executed using a firearm. | ||||
| Contrary to common belief, the majority of rapes and assaults were carried out without the perpetrator wielding a weapon. |
Weapons Used in Crimes Table
| Criminal's weapon | Violent crime% | Rape/sexual assault | Robbery% | Simple/aggravated assault% |
| No weapon | 73 | 85 | 48 | 76 |
| Firearm | 8 | (--)(*) | 28 | 5 |
| Knife | 6 | 8(*) | 9 | 5 |
| Other | 7 | 2(*) | 8 | 7 |
| Uncategorized | 2 | (--)(*) | 2(*) | 1 |
| *Based on 10 or fewer sample cases. | ||||
| --Less than 0.5%. | ||||