The LA Times says there's a new study out that contradicts Lott.

Not to poison the well, but it's from the Brookings Institution, by a law professor, for what that's worth. But there's really no way to evaluate it until we see the data in detail.

The paper by Ayers and Donohue is available in .pdf at http://papers.nber.org/papers/w9336.pdf

It is 1.3 Meg so it may take a while to download.

It is tough going. I wouldn't say that it contradicts Lott. What it does show is that different models generate quite different answers to the question "Do more guns decrease crime?" The wide variation in answers says to me that the only thing we can say is that there is no big effect in either direction.

What would be interesting is a correlation between the circumstances and type of crime and gun laws.

It seems almost certain that there would be fewer accidents with people shooting themselves with their own gun (unless that doesn't come under gun crime).

It seems very unlikely there would be a decrease in drug related killings, given that they already smuggle stuff into the country and are mostly full time professionals.

Random muggings and crimes of passion would probably go down. I suppose there should be an increase in non gun related killings large enough to compensate for part of but not all the decrease in gun related killings.

I read articles about how crime increased when guns were taken away in temporarily Florida and when the guns were returned the crime rate went down; The UK took guns away and the crime increased;Australia- guns were taken away and the crime rate increased.

If criminals/potential criminals have the guns and we don't, how do we protect ourselves? Can you really expect cops to stop criminals from bullying, stealing or killing victims? Do you really think screaming is going to stop them? Do you plan on throwing rocks?

I would rather shoot them. I would not take delight in killing them but if it came down to it, I will.

To carry and keep my gun is my Second Amendment right, I will fight to keep it. If that freedom is take away, what else will go with it?

Don't make it easy for lawbreakers to take advantage.

There are a couple drawbacks if guns were taken away; not only will criminals be able to get guns and good people will not have them, but it will force good people to learn nasty techniques to protect themselves. Why would you place nice people in such a predicament by forcing them to learn to do bad things?

It's extremely idealistic to believe that once "guns are under control" that individuals will be also. Guns don't kill people but people do and if guns are taken away, what will be the next choice of weapon...knife? car? bat?