Opinion: Crime Prevention Research Center | Analysis & Commentary
For years, the media and gun control advocates have painted a grim picture of armed civilians intervening in active shooter events.
Hollywood dramatizes chaos. Anti-gun pundits warn that civilians will shoot the wrong person, get in the way of police, or make everything worse. But what if the numbers tell a completely different story?
Dr. John R. Lott, Jr., Ph.D., President of the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), just released a new study that throws cold water on the fear-based narrative. This decade-long review of 180 cases from 2014 to 2023 shows that armed citizens don’t just make a difference—they often outperform the professionals.
Let’s break it down.
Civilians With Guns: The Real Stats
Out of 180 active shooter incidents where a concealed carry permit holder stopped the attacker:
- Only one case (0.56%) involved a bystander being accidentally shot.
- Zero civilians got in the way of law enforcement.
- Only one had their gun taken.
- Two civilians (1.1%) were killed.
- 44 (24%) were wounded while bravely stopping the attacker.
- 58 cases likely prevented mass public shootings altogether.
Police Response: The Numbers
In 350 police-involved stops of active shooters over the same period:
- 27 officers (7.7%) were killed.
- 100 officers (28.6%) were wounded.
- Four people were mistakenly shot by police, including two other officers.
When comparing performance in non-gun-free zones, armed civilians stopped 51.5% of attacks versus 44.6% stopped by police. That alone raises eyebrows.
So… Who’s Safer, Really?
Despite the constant fear-mongering, armed citizens consistently showed better or equal outcomes compared to trained law enforcement officers.
- Civilians almost never shoot the wrong person (0.56%)
- Police are twice as likely to make that mistake (1.14%)
- Police officers are 5.94 times more likely to die during an intervention
- Police are 17% more likely to be wounded
This isn’t an indictment of law enforcement. It’s a reality check: civilians are often the first on the scene. They’re already there.
Colion Noir: “This Study Demolishes the Anti-Gun Argument”
Pro-gun YouTube personality Colion Noir broke down the report in a viral video:
“Armed citizens almost never make the mistake that gun control activists warn you about.”
“When seconds count, the police are minutes away. Even in police-heavy cities, they can’t be everywhere at once.”
He points to Israel, where the government encourages civilians to carry. The logic is simple: the first person on the scene is the real first responder.
Why You Never Hear This on CNN
Every time a mass shooting happens, the media runs wall-to-wall coverage. But when an armed citizen stops the killing? Silence. No headlines. No praise.
In one Virginia case, an off-duty federal agent stopped a shooter within 20 seconds. The attacker had already shot two people with an AR-15-style rifle. But mainstream media didn’t even blink.
Why? Because it disrupts the anti-gun narrative.
A Quiet Army of Patriots
Most concealed carriers aren’t looking for glory. They’re moms, dads, store clerks, off-duty officers, veterans, and everyday Americans who choose to be ready.
This study is more than stats. It’s proof that the Second Amendment saves lives.
Final Takeaway
Armed citizens are not a liability. They are a force multiplier.
This isn’t just about gun rights. It’s about truth. When politicians and media lie about guns, studies like this blow the doors off their narrative. If you believe in self-reliance, freedom, and protecting your family—the numbers are on your side.
Share this. Talk about it. Be ready and stay dangerous. You are your own first responder.
Off-Duty Federal Agent Stops Active Shooter in Virginia Grocery Store Parking Lot ~ VIDEO
Israel’s Bold Move: Empowering Civilians with 10,000 Rifles!
About Tred Law
Tred Law is your everyday patriot with a deep love for this country and a no-compromise approach to the Second Amendment. He does not write articles for Ammoland every week, but when he does write, it is usually about liberals Fing with his right to keep and bear arms.
Only naive boomers value zogbots at this point. The every day examples of them violating people’s civil/natural rights should be a lesson to never speak to them.
The sad reality is, a lot of cops aren’t shooters. They treat their guns and shooting skills, like a flash light. It’s just something on their belt. It seems many, perhaps even most cops are afraid of guns. We had to call the cops, recently to shoot a wounded buck in our yard. That guy knew what he was doing. Got is AR15, got up on our deck, so would be shooting down at the buck. He even waited to chamber a round, till he was at the deck railing and about to lean on it. It was a 10.3″,… Read more »
Charles Bronson always scratched the target and never stuck around for the paperwork. Charles Bronson was righteous. However, Charles Bronson didn’t live in the age of the exciting new gun free zone either.
I think civilians are more carefully knowing they have liability so they shoot only when they know they will hit their target
Citizens are EVERYWHERE. PoIice are aImost nowhere to be found.
The only people “surprised” by this are the ones not paying attention. Government thugs have no responsibility to protect you, they often escalate and make the situation worse, and they have no real fear of accountability due to qualified immunity. We witnessed dozens of them not only stand around while children were murdered but actually assault parents who wanted to intervene. Meanwhile, average citizens are held to a much higher standard. Often we face laws harshly restricting our ability to defend ourselves or others and we do not have the same protections from prosecution. Therefore, we are much more discriminating… Read more »
Way more C’s in COP than LE, but what % of C’s are at same level as LE?
There’s not enough LE to make a big stand, there’s plenty of C’s to make a big stand.
Btw, 30rnd Amend2 AR mags for just 5 and free ship at AR15 Overstock, get some now.