Survey Of Academics Shows Support For Armed Self-Defense

posted on April 10, 2015

A recent survey of economists found that a majority believes guns are more likely to be used for self-defense than for crime. The survey was conducted by Gary Mauser, professor emeritus at Simon Fraser University, for John Lott Jr., Crime Prevention Research Center president. Mauser and Lott suspected previous surveys on the attitudes of academics toward armed self-defense might be biased, due to both the pool of respondents (in that case, sociologists and public health researchers) and the way certain questions were phrased.

Mauser’s poll targeted economists who had published gun research in peer-reviewed journals, ensuring that respondents had enough background knowledge to possess an informed opinion. He also took care to word questions as neutrally as possible. His results—that about 83 percent believe there is a net benefit to gun ownership—are in line with the results of recent Gallup polls, which found that roughly two-thirds of Americans believe guns make homes safer.

Latest

The Armed Citizen
The Armed Citizen

The Armed Citizen® November 22, 2024

True stories of the right to keep and bear arms

Now They Want to Use Toy Gun Control as an Excuse for Actual Gun Bans?

Some gun-control “experts” really want to ban young adults from lawfully possessing firearms by citing old state laws that include regulations on toy guns.

This Olympian Has Something Important to Say

Vincent Hancock has a lot to say, but most people just want to know how he accomplished all he has.

From the Editor | The Bullseye

We all need range time, but this day at the range brought more than expected.

Standing Guard | The NRA Comeback

The backbone of the NRA is its millions of members.

What Will 2025 Bring?

The future should hold more victories than defeats throughout the courts.



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.