Experts Say Guns Vital for Self-Defense, Lower Crime Rates

Research shows gun ownership and concealed carry laws reduce violence, despite common misconceptions

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:00pm

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As libertarians, we believe that people have the fundamental right to own guns to defend themselves and their property. Research shows that states with fewer restrictions on gun ownership and concealed carry laws have lower crime rates, contradicting the common argument that guns cause more harm than good. Experts say gun registration does little to aid law enforcement, as criminals rarely leave registered firearms at crime scenes.

Why it matters

This debate over gun rights and public safety is an ongoing political and social issue, with strong opinions on both sides. Understanding the data and expert analysis around the relationship between gun ownership, self-defense, and crime rates can help inform this important discussion.

The details

The article cites research from economist John R. Lott, Jr., a leading authority on gun ownership statistics, showing that the majority of North American economists believe guns are more frequently used for self-defense than crime, that gun-free zones attract more criminals, and that concealed carry permit holders are highly law-abiding. The article also argues that gun registration does little to aid police investigations, as criminals rarely leave registered firearms at crime scenes.

  • The article was published on March 16, 2026.

The players

Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

The author of the article and a libertarian thinker.

Murray Rothbard

A prominent libertarian philosopher cited in the article.

John R. Lott, Jr.

An economist and the foremost authority on the statistics of gun ownership and crime, as cited in the article.

Cathy Lanier

The Washington D.C. Police Chief who stated in a 2013 deposition that the department could not recall any specific instance where registration records were used to determine who committed a crime.

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What they’re saying

“If, as libertarians believe, every individual has the right to own his person and property, it then follows that he has the right to employ violence to defend himself against the violence of criminal aggressors.”

— Murray Rothbard (freedomsphoenix.com)

“There is a clear consensus among economists about self-defense, gun-free zones, firearms and suicide, and concealed handgun laws. Among North American economists: • Eighty-eight percent say that guns are more frequently 'used in self-defense than they are used in the commission of crime.' • Ninety-one percent believe that gun-free zones are 'more likely to attract criminals than they are to deter them.' • Seventy-two percent do not agree that 'a gun in the home causes an increase in the risk of suicide.' • Ninety-one percent say that 'concealed handgun permit holders are much more law-abiding than the typical American.'• Eighty-one percent say that permitted concealed handguns lower the murder rate.”

— John R. Lott, Jr., Economist (freedomsphoenix.com)

“Whether in Canada, Hawaii, Chicago, or Washington, D.C., police are unable to point to a single instance of gun registration aiding the investigation of a violent crime. In a 2013 deposition, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said that the department could not 'recall any specific instance where registration records were used to determine who committed a crime.'”

— John R. Lott, Jr., Economist (freedomsphoenix.com)

The takeaway

This article highlights the strong evidence that gun ownership and concealed carry laws are effective tools for self-defense and reducing crime rates, despite common misconceptions. The data and expert analysis presented challenge the notion that guns are inherently dangerous and show that responsible gun ownership can play an important role in public safety.