FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        FOR MORE INFORMATION
AUGUST 8, 1996                                 NRA PUBLIC AFFAIRS
                                                     703-267-3820

        NEW STUDY SHOWS: CONCEALED CARRY LAWS SAVE LIVES
 1,570 MURDERS AND 4,177 RAPES COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED YEARLY

FAIRFAX, VA -- Today, University of Chicago professor, John Lott
released his exhaustive study of concealed carry laws in the
United States.  Professor Lott's research concluded that:

     "Allowing citizens without criminal records or histories of
     significant mental illness to carry concealed handguns
     deters violent crimes ... If the rest of the country had
     adopted right-to-carry concealed handgun provisions in 1992,
     at least 1,570 murders and over 4,177 rapes would have been
     avoided.  The estimated annual gain in 1992 from allowing
     concealed handguns was over $6.21 billion."

Professor Lott released his study at a luncheon sponsored by the
CATO Institute in Washington, D.C.

"Rather than standing in the way of public safety, the NRA has
been promoting it.  With the release of professor John Lott's
study, which shows that the passage of concealed carry laws has
reduced violent crime including homicide, aggravated assault and
rape, our efforts have been validated," said Mrs. Tanya K.
Metaksa, Chief Lobbyist for the 3 million member National Rifle
Association.

"In state after state, the NRA has made life saving right-to-carry
laws a reality.  Not only has gun control failed in reducing
criminal access to firearms, it has actually facilitated violent
crime.

"Right-to-carry marks the triumph of victims over criminals.
Today, 31 states have acted on the principle that honest citizens
can and should be trusted to defend themselves and families
against criminal attack.

"Right-to-carry is a grassroots movement of legislators, law
enforcement, crime victims and ordinary citizens who understand
that self-defense is the fundamental civil right.  Citing
research by Florida State professor, Gary Kleck, Mrs. Metaksa
noted that the law-abiding thwart criminal attack some 2.5
million times annually using privately owned firearms.

"It is our hope, that this ground breaking research will show the
minority of states that don't have right-to-carry laws that they
should act quickly to give their residents this life saving law,"
she concluded.

   -- the nra: people protecting freedom and saving lives --

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