Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has accused the FBI, CDC and major media outlets of deliberately suppressing data that shows the effectiveness of defensive gun use in preventing crime. Massie pointed to research by Dr. John R. Lott Jr., which claims that these agencies have worked to hide data that supports the right to bear arms.
Dr. Lott’s article reveals that the CDC removed its estimates of defensive gun use after pressure from a gun control group. The data, which showed that citizens use guns defensively between 64,000 and 3 million times each year, was reportedly seen as a threat to efforts to pass stricter gun control measures. According to Lott, this removal was politically motivated to minimize the role of armed citizens in stopping crime.
Lott also criticized the FBI’s reporting on active shooter incidents, arguing that the agency’s broad definition and reliance on news reports lead to underreporting of incidents where civilians stop shooters. The FBI reported that only 14 out of 350 active shooter incidents were stopped by armed civilians between 2014 and 2023. However, Lott’s Crime Prevention Research Center found that civilians actually stopped shooters in 180 of 515 cases.
Massie argues that as the 2024 election approaches, gun control advocates will continue to push their agenda. He emphasizes that the Second Amendment protects the right of Americans to defend themselves, and calls for greater transparency in reporting data on defensive gun use.
