CRIMINALS are more likely to target people who are armed because they want firearms, according to a Gun Free South Africa survey. The anti-gun interest group commissioned the study to determine under what circumstances licensed firearms were lost to criminals. Anthony Altbeker, a lecturer in the policing programme at the University of the Witwatersrand, conducted the study by analysing 1 155 dockets dealing with the loss, theft or robbery of firearms. He said most victims lost their firearms in places where they felt unsafe. Of the 1 078 cases reviewed by area, 37,6% of firearms were lost in the inner city, 36,8% happened in townships, 19,9% occurred in suburbs, 1,7% took place in the veld and 4,1% occurred in other areas such as farms, trains and prisons. The probe showed that in 60,5% of the cases, only the firearm was taken. The research revealed that although owning a firearm made you feel safer, it did not mean that your safety levels had actually increased. Only 8% of victims appeared to have their firearms when they were attacked and 22% of gun owners were able to use their firearms in self-defence. However, in these cases criminals were more likely to return fire. Based on this research, arguments that firearms helped protect the owners were “not persuasive”, he said.