It should also be noted that uses of guns in self defense (e.g. “pulling a gun”) not involving any injuries or deaths are not well-tracked (though they’re estimated to be much more frequent than instances involving bodily harm).
Interesting, an unloaded or even fake gun would be just as effective in "defense" then. (And is not going to be used for either suicide or used against you.)
If you are a very good actor, confident that nobody will call your bluff, and the assailant believes it is likely that the gun is real and loaded, yes.
