debate on Southern California Public Radio (KPCC): Are universal background checks effective in lowering gun-related deaths?

From KPCC:

A new study published in the journal Lancet finds that three types of laws governing gun ownership in America can reduce the number of firearm deaths in the country. . . . 

Bindu Kalesan, lead author of the study, “Firearm legislation and firearm mortality in the USA: a cross-sectional, state-level study.” She is an assistant professor of medicine at Boston University 

John Lott, author, “More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws” (University of Chicago Press, Third Edition, 2010) and President of The Crime Prevention Research Center that focuses on the study of gun laws and public safety

The debate took place from 3:20 to 3:40 PM EDT on Monday, March 14, 2016.

OP-ED IN THE TENNESSEAN: "Allowing guns at Legislative Plaza would increase safety"

Nikki Goeser & I had an op-ed featured in The Tennessean (March 15, 2016)

Democrats sure seem worried that there will soon be no safe place left for them in Nashville. The Legislative Plaza and the War Memorial Building, where state legislators have their offices, were caught up in a debate last month about taking down its “gun-free zone” signs. 

The problem with gun-free zones, which ban law-abiding civilians from carrying, is that they don’t exactly scare off criminals. In fact, they have just the opposite effect. Disarming everyone, including legislators or staffers, on their way to and from the buildings leaves them easy targets to criminals and terrorists.

The rest of the op-ed is available here.

Interview with Melissa Kerr on Sunny 99.9fm El Paso, TX: Discussion on new laws to allow Campus Carry and Open Carry of Firearms in Texas

Dr. Lott speaks with show host Melissa Kerr of Sunny 99.9fm El Paso, Texas about a new laws in Texas that allow Campus Carry and the open carrying of legal firearms, which took effect this January. Texas became the 45th state which allows open carry. There were concerns before the law took place but those concerns have not proven to be a real issue.

Interview is available here.

Trump has clearly done a better job of explaining his positions

Those who have read my posts know that I have been critical of Donald Trump.  That said, I believe he has definitely grown as a candidate.  He has also explained his views on guns and other issues much more clearly, and I have become convinced that he actually means what he has been saying.  I can understand how a businessman in New York City, who wants to stay in good graces with the political establishment there, must toe a particular political line, and I can believe that has been true in his case.

Even on trade, anyone who looks at the incredibly long and complicated trade treaties must acknowledge that much of these agreements involve creating wealth transfers to politically well connected and powerful groups, companies and unions.  Not actions that benefit the US as a whole.  I think on a statement such as that the vast majority of economists would agree that the trade treaties could be dramatically improved.