Guns reduce crime

28 Oct 2011

Speakers: John J Donohue, Paul Helmke, John R Lott, Gary Kleck, Stephen Halbrook, R Gil Kerlikowske

This debate took place in New York on 28th October 2008.

Speaking in favour of the motion are John Lott, Stephen Halbrook, and Gary Kleck.

John Lott argues that gun-ownership is the best crime-deterrent that law-abiding citizens have, and these are the only people who will abide by a law that bans them.

Stephen Halbrook states that guns gives people the legal right to protect themselves when policemen cannot, or do not.

Gary Kleck states that crime victims who use guns during a crime are less likely to be injured or killed than crime victims who adopt any other kind of strategy, including non-resistance.

Arguing against the motion are Gil Kerlikowske, John Donohue, and Paul Helmke.

Gil Kerlikowske says that the prevalence of gun-ownership in America does not deter criminals, it only encourages them to arm themselves accordingly.

John Donohue says that whatever benefit we get from deterring a small number of criminals is offset by the fact that, for each time a gun is used defensively, five times as many are stolen from the homes of law-abiding citizens.

Paul Helmke states that America is the most deadly country when it comes to gun crime, because they have so many guns. 33 people are killed with guns every day, and most of them not in black-and-white criminal/victim encounters.

Thank you to IQ² US for allowing us to use this video.

Speakers for the motion

Stephen Halbrook

Attorney
Gary Kleck

Professor, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University
John R Lott

Research Scholar, University of Maryland