Report: Over 90% of mass shootings in U.S. from 2009 happened in ‘gun-free zones’

Report: Over 90% of mass shootings in U.S. from 2009 happened in ‘gun-free zones’

Ninety-two percent of the mass shootings that took place in the United States between January, 2009 and July, 2014 occurred in so-called “gun-free zones,” according to a revised report published by the Crime Prevention Research Center Thursday.

The CPRC was founded by economist, author and a world recognized firearms expert Dr. John R. Lott, Jr. The CPRC’s report on mass shootings was written in response to an analysis on the same subject published earlier by Everytown for Gun Safety, founded, chaired and partially funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Everytown’s analysis concluded that a mere 14 percent of mass shootings in public places occurred in “gun free zones,” leaving a whopping 86 occurring where guns are allowed.

The most glaring error in Everytown’s claim is self-evident from a bare reading of its own report.

“Seventy-seven of the 110 incidents (70%) took place wholly in private residences,” the Everytown report read. “Of the 33 incidents in public spaces, at least 18 took place wholly or in part where concealed guns could be lawfully carried. All told, no more than 15 of the shootings (14%) took place entirely in public spaces that were so-called ‘gun-free zones.’”

Therefore, Everytown included the 77 incidents that “took place wholly in private residences” to arrive at its conclusion that 14 percent of public place mass shootings occurred in “gun free zones.” Using Everytown’s own raw data, a shade over 45 percent would have taken place in “gun free zones.”

But CPRC dug deeper, and discovered that the anti-gun group’s analysis was wholly disingenuous.

It found that Everytown made “numerous errors in identifying whether citizens can defend themselves,” according to its report.

According to Breitbart News, these “numerous errors” included:

Everytown “[ignores] rules that prevent general citizens from carrying guns [for self-defense]” in certain cities, and they fail to recognize that “allowing police to carry guns is not the same thing as letting civilians defend themselves.”

So Everytown might count an attack in a public area in Los Angeles as a mass shooting where guns are allowed because certain guns are allowed in the city with a permit. However, they miss the fact that L.A. County issues a minuscule number of concealed carry permits, and many of the ones that are issued are granted only “to wealthy [political] donors.”

Using the same numerical standard that Everytown used–four or more people killed–but taking all rules and regulations against firearm possession into account, CPRC showed that only 8% of mass public shootings occurred in places where citizens could have guns for self defense.

These results shouldn’t be surprising to anyone. Only law-abiding citizens comply with signs and placards announcing a “gun-free zone.” On the other hand, such areas are an open invitation to criminals. After all, that’s why they’re criminals.

Michael Dorstewitz

Michael Dorstewitz

Michael Dorstewitz is a recovering Michigan trial lawyer and former research vessel deck officer. He has written extensively for BizPac Review.

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