Dr. Lott does not advocate arming high school students, but he thinks that Congress made a mistake in 1995 by banning adults from having guns within 1,000 feet of a school. In academia, debate has been lively over the meaning of Dr. Lott's research. Outside academia, Dr. Lott's work has driven gun-control advocates to desperate measures. Many have spread false accusations that he is financially beholden to the gun industry. The most surprising development, Dr. Lott said, has been dozens of death threats from gun-control advocates.
Bad things can happen with guns.
But guns can also be used to stop bad things from happening, and the net effect is that they save lives.