When Ted Nugent fires up the Spirit Campfire, you know it’s going to be loud, patriotic, and full of truth bombs. But when the Motor City Madman brought on Dr. John Lott of the Crime Prevention Research Center, things got seriously factual.
Here are five takeaways when Uncle Ted met the stats king of gun rights:
Table of contents
1. Every Country That Banned Guns… Got More Murder
Dr. Lott is a straight shooter.
“Every place in the world that’s banned either all guns or all handguns has seen murder rates go up.”
Yes, every single time. So if you’re thinking banning guns reduces violence, well… welcome to reality.
Whether it’s island nations or major U.S. cities, bans only disarm the good guys. The bad guys? They didn’t RSVP to the gun control meeting.
2. Gun Bans Are Basically Criminal Coupons
“When you pass a ban,” Lott explained, “it’s the most law-abiding citizens who obey… you make it easier for the criminals.”
That’s right — all these so-called “common sense” gun laws end up being a criminal’s dream come true.
Think about it: who really benefits when potential victims are unarmed? Spoiler — not the victims.
3. Cops Are Heroes, But They’re Not Time Travelers
Police are great — we back the blue.
But Lott reminded us: “Police virtually always arrive on the scene after the crime has occurred.”
SEE ALSO: CZ 75 vs. CZ P01: Which to Pick?
So when it’s just you and the threat, your best bet isn’t dialing 911 and crossing your fingers.
It’s having a tool of equal force on hand — like the Second Amendment intended.
4. Armed Civilians Stop More Mass Shootings Than Police
This one raised eyebrows: “Civilians actually stop these attacks at a higher rate than uniform police officers,” Lott said of active shooting incidents.
Even crazier? “Police are seven times more likely to be killed stopping these attacks than civilians.”
Why? Because attackers target uniforms first — and skip the places where they know civilians might shoot back.
5. Vulnerable Americans Benefit Most from Carrying
It’s not just a numbers game — it’s a human one. Lott broke down how the people who benefit the most from carrying firearms are the elderly, women, and inner-city residents — the ones most likely to be victims of violent crime.
Whether you’re rocking out or reading stats, Ted Nugent and John Lott reminded us that facts still matter — and the Second Amendment isn’t about hunting, it’s about freedom.
Want to dig into the research? Check out crimeresearch.org — or, as Ted tried to say five times fast, “crimeresarch.oorg… oarch… org.”
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! ***
Available on GunsAmerica Now
is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
Although the cite to the anti gun site is sloppy, the anti site’s “rebuttable” is hardly a refutation. It is an explanation, alleging that Lott’s position is misleading because the gun ban countries including some that ended up in civil wars. Individual gun ownership isn’t just about self defense of the home and bodega from criminal robbers, but includes self defense in times of insurrection and civil disorder. The fact that deaths went up after gun bans remains a fact. Alternate theories of causation of murder doesn’t undermine Lott’s conclusion.
So when it’s just you and the threat, your best bet isn’t dialing 911 and crossing your fingers.
That’s when it’s time to take care of business by dialing M1911. “Hello, 911 operator, this is so and so and I’m standing at the corner of such and such place. There’s been a shooting here,can you send the coroner? No no, it’s a bit late for the police, we just need the coroner to pronounce the cause of death and remove the body.”
Who knows, but it’s always better to have a tool and not need it than need it and not have it
Like millions of Americans, I really don’t want to walk around with a firearm on my hip, but I don’t want to be a victim of a violent crime either and since too many career criminals are returned to the streets with nothing more than a court date, people have to protect themselves, their family and society at large because the court system is broken and not doing its job.
Wait! GunsAmerica, are you stupid? You link Dr. Lott’s statement, “Every place in the world that’s banned either all guns or all handguns has seen murder rates go up” to a notoriously ANTI-GUN website, gvpedia.org that directly debunks Lott’s claim. WTH?
I live in the rural area of N.E.Ohio. Firearms are a daily part of life here. We call gunshots, “The sound of freedom”. To require us to lock our guns up all the time is ludicrous at best. To try and take them is sheer madness. When we call police, they will get here in at least 15 minutes. So police are seldom called. And criminals don’t stop here, no sir. We have a very low crime rate, and we like it that way. So take your city laws and stuff ’em. They won’t work outside of city limits.
Does the author of this article even realize that the link he provided for item one directly refutes (in detail) the assertion made by Dr. Lott?
Just posted the same thing. WTH, GunsAmerica?!?!?
when help is miles away diy is the best way!