Lott, an author and college professor, told newsmax that gun free zones become a magnet for deranged killers who hope to burn their names into the history books by running up a big body count. Shooting down the more guns, less crime hypothesis ian ayres, john j. Anyone interested in the important public policy issues it addresses. Introduction on february 29th, 2000, a sixyearold boy in mt. Congress cataloginginpublication data lott, john r. Lott s landmark study on crime, deterrence, and the right to carry concealed handguns. This is familiar territory for lott, whose first major book, more guns, less crime, published in 1998, marked a turning point in the gun debate. More guns, less crime has been an incredibly potent idea in local policy debates over gun laws. Acrobat reader availabe for free download from the internet at.
More guns, less crime would be a fine gift for your state representative, local newspaper editor, or public library. To the anti gun movement, the statistics on crime deterrence are irrelevant. Lott effectively debunks the politically correct idea that allowing private citizens to carry concealed firearms is detrimental to society. The number of americans with concealedcarry permits has reached almost 18. That, not coincidentally, is the title of an important new book by one of americas most resourceful and fearless econometricians, john lott, who for the last several years has been the john m. The theory has largely been fueled by a deeply contested 1997 paper by economists john lott. More than a decade later, it continues to play a key role in ongoing arguments. In 1997, john lott and david mustard 1997 published a lengthy study. But anyone with an interest in rational firearms policy ought to thank john lott for writing this excellent book. Their combined citations are counted only for the first. Get a free copy of john lotts latest book the war on guns. A lott more lies debating more guns less crime dec 31, 2014, 6.
Pdf more guns, less crime jhon r lott jr georg lucas. Over a decade has passed since more guns, less crime was released in 1998, immediately remaking the gun rights debate landscape. Interview with john lott, author of more guns, less crime. As founder and president of the pro gun crime prevention research center, lott has made a career out of promoting myths about gun free zones, advancing his debunked more guns, less crime. Lott jr criminals are motivated by selfpreservation, and handguns can therefore be a deterrent. Discredited progun researcher john lott falls apart when.
Understanding crime and gun control laws by john r. Lott s 250page book covers a wide range of territory, and seeks to debunk what he sees as many of the most common arguments by gun control advocates and their allies in the media. Understanding crime and gun control laws is in its 3rd edition. John lott, author of more guns, less crime, details why gun control measures only put innocent citizens at risk. Morris township, michigan boarded the bus for the ride to school, a slight bulge in the beltline of his pants. What i learned from john lott, author of more guns less. John lott is, if not the most influential, certainly the most prolific academic in the gun debate.
Through the length of this 500page book youre led through a mountain of facts and figures on the effects that gun control laws have had on various states and counties. This timely and provocative work comes to the startling conclusion. Directly challenging common perceptions about gun control, legal scholar john lott presents the most rigorously comprehensive data analysis ever done on crime statistics and righttocarry laws. He is best known as an advocate in the gun rights debate, particularly his arguments against restrictions on owning and carrying guns. This books, more guns, less crime by john lott, pores through decades of statistics on links between gun ownership, violent crime, concealed carry laws, and demographics. An economist by trade, lott sought to study the effects of gun policy on crime rates. Understanding crime and gun control laws, third edition studies in law and economics lott, john r. He spoke for almost an hour, but was so interesting that everyone attending the talk was surprised when he looked at his watch and announced that he seemed to have run over time and then he took questions.
The potential defensive nature of guns is further evidenced by the different rates of socalled hot burglaries, where a resident is at home when a criminal strikes. Lotts more guns, less crime drew both lavish praise and heated criticism. Despite all the attacks by gun control advocates, no one has ever been able to refute lott s simple, startling conclusion that more guns mean less crime. Get a free copy of john lotts latest book the war on guns ammoland inc. Devin hughes and evan defilippis john lott and i had a debate on the david pakman show over the question of whether or not more guns decrease the crime. Since the second edition came out in 2000, i have continued working. The crime prevention research center is a nonprofit founded in 20 by john lott, author of the book more guns, less crime. The statisticsladen text was indecipherable to mathchallenged adults. Despite all the attacks by gun control advocates, no one has ever been able to refute lott s simple, startling conclusion. Understanding crime and gun control laws, third edition 1998, 2000, 2010.
When john lott released his book more guns, less crime the title alone caused a sensation. More guns, less crime is a book by john lott that says violent crime rates go down when states pass shall issue concealed carry laws. Understanding crime and gun control laws, third edition. He presents the results of his statistical analysis of crime data for every county in the united states during 29 years from 1977 to 2005. The gops favorite gun academic is a fraud thinkprogress. That growth was fueled by states like oklahoma and kentucky, which legalized carrying a concealed firearm without a permit. Lott was formerly employed at various academic institutions including the university of chicago, yale university, the wharton school of the university of pennsylvania, and the university of maryland, college park, and at the american enterprise institute conservative think tank. Law and economics john lott and david mustard have used regression analysis to argue forcefully that shallissue laws which give citizens an unimpeded right to secure permits for concealed weapons reduce violent crime. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Each edition of the book was refereed by the university of chicago press.
More than a decade later, it continues to play a key role in ongoing arguments over gun control laws. Examples of stories where people successfully defend themselves from burglaries with guns are quite common see john r. Enter john lott s more guns, less crime first published in 1998, revised in 2010. Lott s more guns, less crime drew both lavish praise and heated criticism. The nine worst claims about guns from john lotts new book. More guns, less crime is not the last word on the subject, and john lott does not suggest that it is. Lott s thesis that more guns lead to less crime has been thoroughly and repeatedly debunked john hopkins center for gun policy and research. Crime prevention research center media biasfact check.