EPISODE 193: “Gun Control Myths” with Dr. John Lott

We’ve all been appalled by yet another school shooting, this time in Uvalde, Texas. We want these tragedies to stop. We want to do something. 

Of course the cries to “do something” almost always means doing something about guns. Yet, the gun bill just signed into law by President Biden is unlikely to prevent future school shootings. There’s a lot of evidence to show why it won’t work, especially when existing gun laws appear to cost more lives than they save.

So says Dr. John Lott, my guest on this episode, and the nation’s leading expert on guns and gun laws. Dr. Lott, with a PhD in economics, is president of the Crime Prevention Research Center. 

With almost three decades of research, his many books including More Guns, Less Crime, The Bias Agains Guns and Gun Control Myths which show that by allowing adults to carry concealed weapons significantly reduces crime in America.

Some things you may find surprising: 

Between 1950 and May 2022, 96% of mass public shootings in the United States occurred in places where citizens were banned from carrying guns. Yet the mainstream media refuses to mention that the attacks occur in “gun-free” zones.

“If someone were threatening you or your family, would you feel safe  putting a sign in front of your home that said this home is a gun-free zone?” asks John.

America’s “average” gun crime statistics are badly distorted by black on black murders in our inner cities. Even average deaths of children killed by guns include teenagers, and most of those gun crimes are gang murders.

“When people cite the rise in “mass shootings” in America, we need to know that almost 90% are gangs fighting each other over drug turf.”

Survey data and news reports show that the fear that targeted victims might be armed deters criminals, and that guns are used in self-defense or to ward off criminal threats about 2.3 million times a year.

“Burglars in the United States spend about twice as long casing a home before they break in compared to their British counterparts. What’s the reason that they give? They’re worried about getting shot.”

In the more that 30 years since John Lott wrote More Guns, Less Crime, his facts, arguments and recommendations remain true as ever.