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Dr. John Lott has spent nearly three decades arguing that the numbers matter in America’s gun debate. Now, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is recognizing that work.
CCRKBA named Lott its “Gun Rights Defender of the Year” during the 41st annual Gun Rights Policy Conference in Dallas. The organization credited his research with giving Second Amendment advocates valuable data for policy debates, court fights and public outreach.
Nearly 30 Years in the Debate
Lott is the founder and president of the Montana-based Crime Prevention Research Center. His research first gained widespread attention in 1996.
Two years later, Lott published More Guns, Less Crime. The book challenged claims that growing firearm ownership and expanded concealed carry would automatically increase violent crime.
His findings quickly made him one of the country’s most visible gun-rights researchers. They also made him a frequent target of gun-control advocates and academics who dispute his conclusions.
That debate has never really slowed down.
Lott and the Crime Prevention Research Center continue publishing research on concealed carry, defensive gun use, mass public shootings, crime trends and media coverage of firearms.
“It’s kind of hard to believe it’s been 30 years since I’ve been involved in this effort,” Lott said while accepting the award.
He also thanked supporters who make the organization’s research possible.
Giving the 2A Movement Ammunition
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb said Lott had performed additional work over the past year that benefited the broader gun-rights movement.
Gottlieb added that Lott’s research provides advocates with the “ammunition” needed to win political and legal battles.
That may be the simplest explanation for the award.
Second Amendment debates often become emotional within seconds. Lott’s role has been to bring tables, statistics and research papers into an arena usually dominated by slogans and talking points.
People can debate his conclusions, and they certainly do. However, his influence on the modern gun-rights movement is difficult to deny.
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Lott has written ten books and more than 100 articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals. He has also held research or teaching positions at several major universities.
The annual Gun Rights Policy Conference brings national Second Amendment leaders together with grassroots activists. CCRKBA co-hosts the event with its sister organization, the Second Amendment Foundation.
Lott has spoken at previous conferences, usually arriving with enough charts, figures and research to keep attendees busy long after the presentation ends.
This year, CCRKBA decided to send him home with another title: Gun Rights Defender of the Year.
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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.
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