I doubt there’s a more maligned character in the debate over gun rights than Dr. John Lott. Just ask any gun control activist. They can’t stand him. His research often refutes their favorite narratives. His command of the data often leaves them little refuge. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk with Dr. Lott on occasion since 2018. I’ve found him knowledgable, willing to test a hypothesis, willing to have his ideas and research challenged. In short, when I look back at his work, I’m convinced it’s less about defining gun policy and more about getting to a set of facts that should influence gun policy. Hence the animus.
