Gun control laws do not deter crime; gun ownership deters crime.
A Nov. 26, 2013 study found that, between 1980 and 2009, “assault weapons bans did not
significantly affect murder rates at the state level” and “states with restrictions on the carrying of
concealed weapons had higher gun-related murders.” [103] While gun ownership doubled in the
twentieth century, the murder rate decreased. [53] John R. Lott, Jr., PhD, author of More Guns,
Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, stated, “States with the largest
increases in gun ownership also have the largest drops in violent crimes… The effect on ‘shall-
issue’ [concealed gun] laws on these crimes [where two or more people were killed] has been
dramatic. When states passed these laws, the number of multiple-victim shootings declined by 84
percent. Deaths from these shootings plummeted on average by 90 percent and injuries by 82
percent.” [54] A Dec. 10, 2014 Pew survey found that 57% of people believe that owning a gun
protects them from being victimized. [55] Journalist John Stossel explained, “Criminals don’t
obey the law… Without the fear of retaliation from victims who might be packing heat, criminals
in possession of these [illegal] weapons now have a much easier job… As the saying goes, ‘If
guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.'”
Gun control laws will not prevent criminals from obtaining guns or breaking laws.
Of 62 mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and 2012, 49 of the shooters used
legally obtained guns. Collectively, 143 guns were possessed by the killers with about 75%
obtained legally. [69] John R. Lott, Jr., PhD, gun rights activist, stated, “The problem with such