100). Lott believes this type of crime could be prevented if citizens were allowed to carry concealed handguns. Furthermore, he describes that in defense classes students are taught that a victim should be passive to an attacker. In reality the victim is much more likely to be hurt or killed when being passive. Lott goes even further by attempting to prove an attack could be prevented in the first instance if a "victim" was allowed to carry a handgun. Lott supports these ideas with extensive data that shows American states that have the largest increases in gun ownership, have shown the largest decreases in violent crimes. .
In addition to this fact, Lott gives evidence that high crime neighborhoods with minority populations show immediate reductions in crimes when citizens begin to carry concealed handguns. His research also suggests that children are at far greater risk of being killed in bicycle or car accidents, drowning, or burning to death than being killed by gun accidents. .
It is suggested that the most economical method for reducing crime is for citizens to carry "nondiscretionary concealed handguns" (p.159). Interestingly, he adds that the cost of hiring more police officers, and increasing the rates of arrest and conviction for crimes is much higher than the costs associated with the carrying of concealed handguns. .
Lott feels that by substantially increasing the immediate risk to potential criminals, fewer crimes will be committed. .
Analysis.
Lott's research for this book appears to be one of the most extensive studies ever done on this subject. He includes comprehensive tables, charts, and data from the FBI, local and state police, including other private studies done in the past. Extensive criminal data from across the country for serious crimes such as rape, murder, and armed robbery statistics (p.30-32) is used to back his argument. Lott is able to make his case for More Guns, Less Crime in a very convincing way due to the type and amount of research he presents.