Science Magazine Recommends that the AEI Investigate Pro-Gun Author John Lott About Allegations that Lott Falsified his Research

6/2/2003

From: Bryan Miller of the Freedom States Alliance, 215-923-3151

PHILADELPHIA, June 2 -- John Lott, a pro-gun researcher at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), and advocate of concealed handguns laws, has come under fire for failing to produce evidence of some of his research.

Science Magazine has suggested that the American Enterprise Institute conduct an investigation into Lott's disputed research. Science Magazine recommended that the AEI conduct an inquiry similar to Emory University's investigation into historian Michael Bellesiles about questions of falsified research in his book about gun ownership in America. Bellesiles eventually resigned from Emory and was also stripped of the distinguished Bancroft Prize. In a recent editorial, Donald Kennedy, Editor in Chief of Science Magazine, wrote:

"...Legislators in a number of states are still considering liberalizing concealed-weapons laws, and Lott's book plays a continuing role in the debate. That moves this story from high comedy to a troubling challenge in social policy that isn't funny at all. Death by shooting is a national public health problem. Sound social science, not cooked data, is what we need..."

Science Magazine suggested an investigation into Lott's questionable research:

"The American Enterprise Institute has not yet followed the example Emory set with Bellesiles, though it might think about it."

Lott is the author of "More Guns, Less Crime" and wrote on page 3, "98 percent of the time that people use guns defensively, they merely have to brandish a weapon to break off an attack." When Lott was asked about the source of the "98 percent statistic" he attributed the number to polls conducted by the Los Angeles Times, Gallup, and Peter Hart Research Associates. When researchers found this to be completely incorrect, Lott changed his story and attributed the "98 percent statistic" to pro-gun researcher Gary Kleck, a criminologist at Florida State University. This claim also proved to be inaccurate.

Lott then claimed that the "98 percent statistic" was derived from a phone survey he had conducted. When asked for proof of the data by critics, Lott responded that he couldn't turn over his research because a computer crash had erased all his data as well any evidence that could substantiate the survey's existence.

"The American Enterprise Institute's credibility is weakened every day it refuses to investigate Lott," said Bryan Miller, spokesperson for the Freedom States Alliance, a national coalition of state gun violence prevention groups. "The AEI should initiate a formal and independent inquiry so this question can be settled. State legislatures are voting on concealed weapons laws as we speak. It is unthinkable that such important public policy could be voted upon on the basis of CCW advocate John Lott's unsubstantiated and questionable research. Only a thorough investigation can get to the bottom of these allegations."