From Publishers Weekly
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. Because they impede law-abiding citizens' access to guns, even mild gun-control regulations-assault weapons bans, "one-gun-a-month" laws-actually increase crime, according to Lott, while right-to-carry laws lower crime and help prevent (or violently terminate) terrorist attacks and "rampage" shootings. Even measures to keep guns away from children, like "gun-free school zones" and "safe storage" laws that require guns to be locked away, are misguided because children need guns for self-defense (he cites news reports of kids as young as 11 gunning down criminals). The benefits of untrammeled gun availability are clear, Lott insists, and only the anti-gun bias and selective reporting by the media and government officials have kept this fact out of public consciousness. 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. Many readers will find these sections rough going, but Lott's provocative thesis is sure to stir interest among second-amendment stalwarts and gun-control supporters alike. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description
Slicing through the emotional--but factually wrong--arguments of gun control advocates this book busts a number of myths, demonstrating with hard statistical data and riveting anecdotes.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In his bestselling classic, More Guns, Less Crime, John Lott proved that guns make us safer. Now, in his stunning new book, The Bias Against Guns, Lott shows how liberals bury pro-gun facts out of sheer bias against the truth. With irrefutable evidence, Lott shoots gun critics down and gives you the information you need to win arguments with those who want to ban guns. In The Bias Against Guns, you'll learn: How Diane Sawyer, Dan Rather, Charlie Gibson, and other TV talking heads promote gun control in the guise of "news". The clever way reporters and the New York Times "spike" pro-gun facts. The trick government statisticians use to "cook" data for the anti-gun lobby (and how pollsters do the same). The sleight of hand that gun-controllers use to grab your taxpayer dollars for their agenda. Why bicycles, water buckets, and playing football are more dangerous to children than guns. How to cut crime -- by giving citizens the right to carry concealed weapons. Why Britain -- which recently banned handguns -- now has a violent crime rate double that of America's. The fallacy of "safe storage" laws. Why "assault weapons bans" and "gun show" regulations are counterproductive. Want the facts? John Lott has them. And with The Bias Against Guns you'll learn how to arm yourself and your neighbors against liberals who would rather confiscate your guns than fight crime.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly