Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 02:01:29 -0400 (EDT)
From: Douglas Davis <[d--i--a] at [rmi.net]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[r k ba alert] at [mainstream.net]>
Subject: GOA:  Study Says...

Study Says CCW Laws Deter Crime by Val W. Finnell, M.D.

What is the worst fear of the gun-prohibitionists ? Scientific research that
refutes their unfounded claim that nondiscriminatory concealed-handgun laws
increase violent crime. Their fears are now a reality, thanks to John R.
Lott, Jr. and David B. Mustard of the University of Chicago. Their
unprecedented research will appear in the January 1997 issue of the
peer-reviewed Journal of Legal Studies.

Mustard recently released this most comprehensive, methodologically sound
research on concealed-carry (CCW) laws in the United States. Unlike previous
"research" Lott did not restrict his study to a few hand-picked counties to
prove a foregone conclusion, but rather analyzed FBI Uniform Crime Report
data from each of the 3,054 counties in the U.S. from 1977 to 1992. The
results? In counties where CCW reform was enacted: *Homicide fell by 8.5%
*Rapes fell by 5% * Aggravated assaults decreased by 7%

Importantly, there appeared to be no significant increase in accidental
deaths. Also, the deterrent effect of CCW laws seemed to be greatest in
counties with the highest crime rates. The study revealed, however, an
increase in property-related crime as criminals shifted away from personal
contact with victims.

What does this mean for the 19 states that have not adopted concealed-carry
reform? Lott's data suggest that, in 1992, approximately 1,570 murders,
4,177 rapes, and over 60,000 aggravated assaults would have been avoided
annually.

The anti-self-defense lobby continues to tout their biased and incompetent
"research" largely funded by the Centers for Disease Control's National
Center for Injury Prevention Control (NCIPC). These "studies" only looked at
the costs of guncrime to society and failed to address any possible benefits
of personal firearms ownership. According to Lott, in addition to the lives
saved and injuries prevented, there is an economic gain from meaningful CCW
laws in the amount of $6,214 billion dollars per year.

What was the gun prohibitionists' response when a serious study finally took
an objective look at CCW laws across America? Personal attacks against Lott
abounded, along with an attempt to squelch the significance of his
conclusions. According to a Washington Times editorial on August 14, 1996,
Lott has received death threats and threats against his family

 Of course, the truth of the effectiveness of an armed citizenry is nothing
new. Thomas Jefferson knew the futility of disarming law-abiding citizens
when he quoted criminologist Casare Beccaria by saying, "Such laws make
things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve
rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be
attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."

The real message has been around for over 200 years: "Guns Save Lives!" Dr.
Finnell is the medical advisor for GOA and is the Debate Coordinator for the
Eastern Region of Doctors for Integrity in Policy Research, Inc. He is also
the Medical Liaison and Webmaster for the Northern Virginia Citizens Defense
League:  http://www.nvcdl.org.