The Washington Times

Joe Biden’s gun advice gets Texas test: Group giving away shotguns in high-crime areas

Vice President Joseph R. Biden made waves when he suggested citizens should buy shotguns to protect themselves. Now, a University of Houston graduate student is giving them away.

Kyle Coplen of the Armed Citizen Project, a group he started on campus, is putting together a project to put shotguns into the hands of men and women in high-crime neighborhoods. Mr. Coplen’s theory is that the weapons will in result in less crime in the afflicted areas.

Speaking to Fox News Houston, Mr. Coplen said: “We’re not just tossing a bunch of shotguns into a community and walking away. … What we’re doing is finding residents who are interested in protecting themselves. We’re not forcing guns on anyone.”

The study being conducted by the Armed Citizens Project seems to be inspired by legal scholar John Lott’s book, “More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws.” The book, which was published in 1998, compiled an exhaustive list of gun crime statistics and came to the conclusion that Mr. Coplen’s group seeks to duplicate.

© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus

      Independent voices from the TWT Communities

      A World in our Backyard

      The world impacts us. What happens in our towns, cities, states, country and on this planet makes a difference to us.

      History on Purpose

      History doesn't have to be grim; there is a lot to be learned from the pages of time.

      Tech Tips in 10 Minutes or Less

      Implement these actionable tips, how-to’s and best practices in 10 minutes or less to leverage online communications and technology for brand, business and career development.