The Crime Prevention Research Center, founded in 2013, serves as the primary base for John Lott’s research into the relationship between firearms and violent crime. An economist by training, Lott has spent decades analyzing data related to right-to-carry laws, arguing that defensive gun use remains significantly underreported in national statistics and media narratives.
Academic and Research Background
John Lott earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1984, following a B.A. in 1980 and an M.A. in 1982. Over his career, he held positions at several institutions, including Yale Law School, the Wharton Business School, Texas A&M University, and Rice University. Between 1988 and 1989, he served as chief economist at the United States Sentencing Commission. Later, he spent five years at the University of Chicago, serving as a visiting professor and a John M. Olin fellow. His institutional history also includes time as a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute from 2001 to 2006 and a role as a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland.
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In his 1997 work co-authored with David B. Mustard, and in books such as More Guns, Less Crime and The Bias Against Guns, Lott presented evidence suggesting that concealed carry laws reduce crime. These findings faced extensive academic scrutiny. A 2004 report by the National Academy of Sciences National Research Council concluded that the evidence was insufficient to determine a causal link, noting that Lott's models were highly sensitive to variable changes. Further critiques came from the RAND Corporation and researchers including Ian Ayres and John J. Donohue, who cited potential coding errors and methodology concerns. Conversely, scholars including Bruce Benson and Carlisle Moody have expressed support for his analytical approach.
Media and Government Engagement
Beyond academia, Lott has maintained a presence as a political commentator and columnist. He began writing for Fox News in 2008 and has contributed op-eds to publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the Chicago Tribune. Between October 2020 and January 2021, Lott served in the U.S. Department of Justice within the Office of Justice Programs during the administration of Donald Trump.
Fast facts
- Born: 1958
- Education: Ph.D. in Economics, UCLA (1984)
- Key Publication: More Guns, Less Crime
- Nonprofit Founder: Crime Prevention Research Center (2013)
- Government Service: Office of Justice Programs (2020-2021)
- Columnist: Fox News (since 2008)
Questions readers ask
What is John Lott's primary argument regarding firearms?
He argues that allowing adults to carry concealed weapons leads to a reduction in crime and that defensive gun use is significantly underreported because many incidents involve merely brandishing a weapon.
Has Lott held government positions?
Yes, he served as the chief economist at the United States Sentencing Commission from 1988 to 1989 and worked in the Office of Justice Programs from 2020 to 2021.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of California, Berkeley and University of Michigan
- Fields: mathematics
