Opposing Views: Gun Control | Dan Gross & Dr. John R. Lott

This is another Opposing Views episode where I speak with two people who have opposing views on contentious subjects. This is my favourite format of episode and one I’ll be focusing on. In this episode, I spoke with Dan Gross and Dr. John R. Lott about gun control in America. We discussed their stances on gun control, assault weapons, the gun show loophole, and background check laws. I asked them whether states with stricter gun control have less gun violence. We also touched on straw purchasers, misconceptions regarding gun violence, and how politics has pervaded an already complicated debate—which is one of the reasons we need conversations like this one.

Chapters

1. 0:00Intro
2. 2:45Dan Gross’s background.
3. 5:53Dan's stance on gun control.
4. 9:24Dan’s suggestion on gun control.
5. 9:59Finding the balance with gun usage.
6. 10:09Why Dan was vilified in certain communities.
7. 11:42Dan’s thoughts on who should own guns.
8. 14:55The gun show loophole.
9. 19:19The reason behind a gun show loophole.
10. 21:13The politicized gun debate.
11. 25:03Do states with stricter gun control have less gun violence?
12. 26:53Comparing gun access between the states and other countries.
13. 29:44The REAL problem with guns according to Dan.
14. 31:09The assault weapon debate.
15. 35:41Straw purchasers.
16. 38:38Gun dealers and crime guns.
17. 39:13Dan's thoughts on how to crack down on straw purchasers.
18. 45:05John R. Lott Jr.'s background.
19. 45:53John's view on gun control.
20. 46:07The sad reality of gun control according to John.
21. 46:42Inequality in gun control.
22. 53:37John’s perspective on legal gun access.
23. 55:39Where felons purchase their guns.
24. 56:18Statistics on gun purchase.
25. 1:02:23A surprising fact of crime in the US.
26. 1:03:27Straw purchasers.
27. 1:04:00John's suggestion to change background checks.
28. 1:07:12Red flag laws.
29. 1:15:09John's perspective on gun education.
30. 1:18:52John’s thoughts on children dying from domestic gunshots.
31. 1:19:33The relationship between gun control and gun crime.
32. 1:20:13John’s advice on governmental gun control.
33. 1:24:55Find more John Lott on CrimeResearch.org.