1. A computer system for gathering performance statistics comprising: a first trap table for responding to trap events, said first trap table comprising addresses of a plurality of trap handling routines; a second trap table for gathering trap statistics and for referencing said first trap table, said second trap table comprising a plurality of counters for maintaining counts of different trap types for encountered trap events; a pointer for selecting between said first and second trap tables, wherein said pointer indicates said second trap table when trap statistic gathering is enabled and otherwise indicates said first trap table; and control logic for switching said pointer.