Rating: 
Summary: Be rational
Review: An absolute must read for anyone interested in this topic, regardless of position on firearms. The world is full of myths and misquoted information. All too often you hear made up statistics over this issue - on both sides. This book takes a scholarly look at the issue using open information and sources that can be verified and indepently analyzed to verify the results - something usually sorely missing from all discussions on this topic. This does however make it a pretty dry read - if you are looking for the grandstanding theatrics usually associated with both sides of gun control, look elsewhere. If you are for the free ownership of firearms, it provides you with solid information and statistics to back your position. If you are against firearms ownership, and have a rational and reasoning mind, this book will give you some great food for thought, if you don't throw it away and you actually do read it. I have suggested and given this book to a few people with strong feelings about this topic, and they usually just ignore this book's information, as it is so much easier to just blindly charge on with nothing more than emotionally based sound bites as a substitute for reason and thought.
Rating: 
Summary: Read it to get a better understanding of gun control laws.
Review: Facts, facts, facts. The stricter the gun control laws are, the greater amount of violent crimes will be committed, period. And John Lott gives you EXTENSIVE research and facts to back it up.
Unfortunately, gun controls are one of those issues that people get overly emotional about. So much so that they are blinded by the facts. Read the first chapter and I guarantee it will knock some sense into you about gun control, about shootings and how so many of us have this misleading view of guns thru the media. It's simple, an accidental shooting will make the local news, a man detering a violent crime from happening with a gun will not.
Though John Lott's second book on gun control deals more with Media Bias, this book deals with the overwhelming research on the benefits of gun possesions.
If guns are outlawed, then only outlaws will have guns.
Rating: 
Summary: In-depth look at the truth behind legal firearms and crime
Review: Finally, a study that can open the eyes of Gun Control advocates to the truth about lawful gun ownership...if only they could look beyond their biases and actually read it. John Lott Jr.'s study of firearms ownership is packed full of statistics and explanations of why gun control actually helps increase crime by making criminals, and not law abiding citizens, feel safer on our streets. Everyone can benefit from reading this book. Overall, I found this to be a very informative book. Some areas that were heavy with statistics and graphs were a somewhat slow read but, in the end, John Lott's conclusions were informative and help remove the veil of lies, misinformation, and scare tactics that the media and Gun control advocates have used to blind the general population.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful evidence for reducing crime
Review: I found out about this book from a friend and read it with great interrest. I never realized just how wrong gun control advocates were. The author used data straight from the government and showed that by allowing law abiding citizens to excercize their god-given right to self defense using hand guns, you reduce overall crime. Some of the data is difficult for the lay-person to understand, but this can be overcome by reading the synopsis offered by the author.
Rating:
Summary: A very good study that made a difference
Review: John Lott has written a very thoughtful and logical book which should be read very widely. (I only rated it 4 stars, because it is so repetitive. But I guess it has to be.) Some years ago, I was fairly in favor of gun control measures. It all made sense to me, since obviously if people don't have guns, the can't shoot others with them. Over a period of years, some things happened, and in the spring of 2001, I believed my life to be threatened, which I reported to the FBI. (Yes, this was quite real.) That experience taught me how almost completely useless such agencies are in protecting us against even very specific threats. Seriously folks, you are on your own. I found out then that all politicians can get and most have permits for concealed carry firearms, even politicians like Dianne Feinstein who have campaigned against them. All of that made me start thinking. I happened across John Lott's book during a business trip that got extended because of the 9-11 aircraft grounding, and found it a fascinating read. I have a fair background in statistics using it a lot in my work, I am quite able to see fallacies, and invalid use of statistical analysis. I could not find any fault with what Mr. Lott has written. I have thought about this quite a bit. And I realize now that my thinking on gun control was really quite fuzzy-headed and emotional, rather like one of the recent reviews of his book from the Australian. (I don't believe, by the way, that certain reviewers, such as the Australian, have read this book beyond the title.) For example, in Australia, there are other factors, population density, as well as relatively flattened economic pyramid which correlate to crime rate. And as Australia and England have both found, along with American cities that have tried it, other crimes rise with severe gun control measures, and brawn becomes more important. ... And criminals pick on weak targets. I am posting anonymously, because I don't want to get involved in some flame war with people who haven't even read up to understand what they are talking about. This is a very emotional issue. If you want to understand gun control, this is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: If More Scholars Did Studies like this, Crime Would Decrease
Review: John Lott is an American hero for many reasons. But in this book, he is a hero for enganging in detailed, and accurate statistical data to prove the Second Amendment is not just a part of the Constitution, but has also proved to be good social policy as well, even in our modern life. Lott shows how liberalization of gun laws (i.e., allowing more people to carry concealed weapons) has resulted in drops in crime rates, even when we take into consideration other variables. Lott also shows that those most protected from concealed gun laws are women and minorities--those whom often are the most skeptical towards liberalization of gun laws and elect those who pass laws that are contrary to their constituents' best interests. If only liberals such as Representative Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), Nancy Pelosi, and gun-grabbers Sen. Ted Tennedy were to read -- and believe this book, and understand its signifiance, perhaps we would have less crime in America. Until then, don't bet on it, and encourage your representative to repeal restrictive gun laws and let law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons.
Rating:
Summary: Be rational
Review: Not all gun regulations are bad. Use your head, otherwise we just hurt our cause. "It's just plain common sense that there be a waiting period to allow local law enforcement officials to conduct background checks on those who wish to buy a handgun." - Ronald Reagan *endorsing* the Brady handgun control bill, at a March 1991 event commemorating 10th anniversary of the assassination attempt.
Rating:
Summary: Striking a blow for freedom and security
Review: The previous reviewers have stated the point better than I could have but I just want to state my affirmation that John Lott has tackled the liberal gun control monster and exposed its argument as nothing more than an attack on freedom under the guise of ensuring safety. In More Guns, Less Crime, John Lott explains the results of THE most exhaustive study ever undertaken on the impact of nondiscretionary concealed hand gun (or right-to-carry) laws on violent crime. His statistically-relevent conclusion supports the common sense and Constitutionally-guaranteed notion that an armed citizenry is the best safeguard against violent crime. His work also reveals the statistically negligible positive effects of well-intentioned but wrong-headed gun control legislation like waiting periods, gun safety classes, and others. In fact, Lott shows that these laws may actually increase the incidence of violent crime by keeping guns out of the hands of vulnerable law-abiding citizens especially when a threat of violence is imminent as in the case of domestic abuse. The Founding Fathers who risked their lives for the principles embodied in the Constitution would applaud the return of freedom that this book champions.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST read for any Legislator
Review: This book backs what common sense would expect. If people take the responsibility for their own protection, we will all be better off [safer]. To some that makes perfect sense, to others it takes this proof. There will be those who will find fault in the conclusion, not because it is not true, but because they don't LIKE that conclusion. I Loved the book and recommend it to anyone considering work as a legislator!
Rating:
Summary: Shock and Awe
Review: This is a book that sends gun control advocates packing. Some of the statistical jargon is, I admit, over my head. But the conclusions are easy-to-read. The questions deserved to be asked, and Lott & Mustard bring shock and awe with their answers.
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