We updated a new research paper that we hope you agree is very important. Please download and read it here.
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Abstract
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The FBI tracks active shooting cases—where individuals attempt to kill people in public places, excluding those tied to robberies or gang violence. This study is the first to systematically compare how uniformed police and civilians with concealed handgun permits perform in stopping these attacks. Civilians with permits stopped the attacks more frequently and faced a lower risk of being killed or injured than police. Officers who intervened during the attacks were far more likely to be killed or injured than those who apprehended the attackers later. We also provide evidence that these numbers significantly underestimate the advantages of civilians over officers in stopping these attacks. If an identification problem exists, it goes in the opposite direction of our results and biases the results against showing benefits of armed civilians.
John R. Lott, Jr. and Carl E. Moody, “Do Armed Civilians Stop Active Shooters More Effectively Than Uniformed Police?” Social Science Research Network, April 4, 2025.
Thank you. This subject of comparison of civilian to police success in armed encounters is most helpful as a point in the gun control (aka gun reform) debate.
Keep them coming, please.
Thank you, John for all the great research you do. I always find it instructional and a very informative.