The Bias Against Guns

Why Almost Everything You've Heard About Gun Control Is Wrong

John Lott (View Bio)
Hardcover: Regnery, 2003.

From the author of the authoritative and controversial MORE GUNS, LESS CRIME comes a provocative book that smashes our conceptions about gun control.

"John Lott's thoughtful study should be read by everyone interested in the control of violent crime, and protection against terrorism." — Vernon L. Smith, Nobel Prize Winner in Economics

"John Lott's 1998 book, MORE GUNS, LESS CRIME created quite a stir among the gun-control romantics, whose expressive advocacy involves neither sound analytics nor empirical evidence. In his follow-on book, THE BIAS AGAINST GUNS, Lott continues the struggle, and responds to his critics, motivated by his strong conviction that analysis and evidence must, finally, win the day." — James Buchanan, Nobel Prize Winner in Economics

"John Lott is a scholar's scholar and a writer's writer — and this book shows why. That gun ownership might bring social benefits as well as costs is a story we do not often see in the press, and Lott here explores why. With a blend of new data, evidence, and examples, he unpacks the bias against such stories in the media." — J. Mark Ramseyer, Harvard Law School professor

"Following up on his controversial study MORE GUNS, LESS CRIME, economist Lott argues that widespread gun ownership prevents crime. He cites survey data and news reports to argue that the fear that victims might be armed strongly deters criminals, and that guns are used in self-defense or to ward off criminal threats about 2.3 million times a year.... Lott supports his bold claims with elaborate statistical analyses that tease sometimes small effects out of the welter of factors that influence crime rates; there are lots of graphs and tables, and much space is devoted to scholarly discussions of statistical methodologies.... Lott's provocative thesis is sure to stir interest among second-amendment stalwarts and gun-control supporters alike." — Publishers Weekly

"As a gun toting rock 'n' roll star all my life, I have lived firsthand the outrageous media and Hollywood bias against good guys with guns forever. I laugh in their face. John Lott is my academic hero." — Ted Nugent, recording artist and author of KILL IT & GRILL IT and GODS, GUNS, AND ROCK 'N' ROLL

"Another major contribution by John Lott to the evidence on the effects — good and bad — of gun-control legislation. An important supplement to his MORE GUNS, LESS CRIME." — Milton Friedman, Nobel Prize Winner in Economics

"[Lott] marshals unimpeachable evidence on how the anti-gun crusade, driven by sins of omission and commission, might actually be costing many more lives than it saves. You'll want to have this intellectual ammunition." — Walter E. Williams, economist and syndicated columnist

"[Lott] deserves the status of Hero of the Constitution in our time: He stands up for the embattled Second Amendment, the section of the Bill of Rights most hated by today's smart set.... [He] explains how the defenders of gun ownership have been saddled with [a] undeserved reputation — and provides the statistical truths that the anti-gun activists don't want you to know. The picture he paints is quite striking. Gun ownership is an important factor in reducing the crime rate; it makes ours a less, not more, violent society.... Lott's book is full of information of this kind — which is highly inconvenient for media outlets that want to traffic in gun scaremongering." — National Review