Study PROVES Armed Citizens Save Lives!

New study reveals armed citizens stop active shooters more effectively than police, with fewer casualties and almost no interference with law enforcement.

At a Glance

 

  • A joint study by the College of William and Mary and the Crime Prevention Research Center analyzed 180 active shooter cases from 2014-2023
  • Armed civilians prevented mass shootings in 58 cases and suffered significantly fewer casualties than frequently claimed by gun control advocates
  • Only one bystander (0.56%) was accidentally shot during civilian interventions, debunking the “crossfire” narrative
  • No armed civilians interfered with police response, contradicting common arguments against civilian intervention
  • The research confirms that responsible armed citizens can and do save lives during critical incidents

 

Armed Citizens: The Unexpected Heroes in Crisis

While politicians and media talking heads continue their endless debate about disarming law-abiding Americans, a groundbreaking study has quietly revealed what many of us have known all along: armed citizens often outperform professionals in stopping active shooters. The joint research conducted by the College of William and Mary and the Crime Prevention Research Center examined 180 active shooter cases spanning from 2014 to 2023, led by Dr. John R. Lott, Jr., President of the Crime Prevention Research Center. The findings shatter nearly every anti-gun narrative that’s been forced down our throats for decades.

 

For years, the anti-gun crowd has lectured us about how armed citizens would supposedly create more chaos, accidentally shoot innocent bystanders, get themselves killed, or interfere with police operations. This extensive study demolishes these claims with cold, hard facts. In 180 cases where armed citizens intervened, only one bystander (a mere 0.56%) was accidentally shot. Let that sink in while remembering how often the “crossfire” argument is used to argue against your constitutional rights.

Debunking Anti-Gun Myths With Hard Data

The study’s findings continue to dismantle long-standing arguments against civilian intervention. Not a single civilian interfered with law enforcement during these incidents. Zero. This completely contradicts the common talking point that armed citizens would somehow confuse responding officers or create additional problems. Only one civilian had their firearm taken from them during these events, addressing another frequently cited concern about weapon retention. These aren’t opinions or projections – these are documented facts from real-world incidents across a near-decade of data.

 

The risks to intervening citizens were also far lower than anti-gun advocates would have you believe. While 44 civilians (24%) were wounded while stopping attackers, only two civilians (1.1%) lost their lives in the process. Every life is precious, but these numbers demonstrate that the narrative of certain death for “hero” civilians is greatly exaggerated. Meanwhile, the study identified 58 cases where civilian intervention likely prevented mass public shootings entirely – potentially saving countless lives that don’t appear in any statistic because the tragedy was averted.

 

The Constitutional Solution to Public Safety

What’s particularly telling is how this research contradicts the endless stream of media narratives suggesting that armed citizens would only make active shooter situations worse. The data shows precisely the opposite – regular Americans with firearms frequently save lives, often before law enforcement can arrive on scene. This isn’t a criticism of police, who do heroic work every day, but rather an acknowledgment of the simple reality that when seconds count, the police are usually minutes away.

While anti-gun politicians continue pushing to disarm law-abiding citizens in the name of “safety,” this research offers convincing evidence that an armed populace represents an essential layer of protection against mass violence. The Second Amendment isn’t just a constitutional right – it’s a practical solution to a real problem. Armed citizens are stopping potential mass shooters with remarkable efficiency and minimal collateral damage, exactly as the founders intended when they enshrined the right to bear arms in our Constitution.

 

The next time you hear someone claim that only police should have guns or that armed citizens make situations more dangerous, point them to this study. The numbers don’t lie, even when politicians and media personalities consistently do. American citizens aren’t just capable of defending themselves and others – in many cases, they’re doing it better than the professionals. That’s not just a defense of our Second Amendment rights; it’s a powerful endorsement of the American citizen’s role in maintaining public safety.

 

 

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