Originally appeared in Newsletter Vol. 5, No. 2, Spring 1999

Author of "More Guns, Less Crime" John Lott, a Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School, says his research shows that criminals prey on people who they think are defenseless. "Some criminals are going to think twice if they have to wonder whether a potential victim is carrying a gun."

In the wake of the March 1998 schoolyard ambush of children by children in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Lott voiced his strong support for arming teachers and other school personnel against gun-toting children. Lott argues, "Allowing teachers and other law-abiding adults to carry concealed handguns in schools would not only make it easier to stop shootings in progress, it could also help deter shootings from ever occurring."

The gun lobby frequently quotes John Lott and his theories that there is a reduction in overall crime in those states which permit concealed handgun ownership. Some 31 states provide concealed weapons permits to people who meet certain objective standards, like age and background checks. About half of these states require no gun training. Another dozen states allow public officials to issue permits to people who show a need for them.

Lott's studies have been criticized by reliable statisticians for faulty methodology. Further, the Lott study deals only with trends for overall crime (which could be subject to other factors), not numbers of deaths. Interestingly, there are significant links between the John M. Olin Foundation, which funded Lott's fellowship at the University of Chicago, and the Olin Corporation, which owns Winchester Ammunition (the largest producer of ammunition in the U.S. and the manufacturer of the infamous "Black Talon" bullet). Winchester Ammunition stands to reap financial gain from the increased sale of handgun ammunition generated by the passage of lax concealed weapons laws. At the time of the release of the Lott study, former Olin Corporation executives continued to serve on the Olin Foundation's board of directors.

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