During the first Trump administration, John Lott accepted a position at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Specifically, he went to work as a senior adviser for research and statistics at the Office of Justice Programs—this is a DOJ division that gives out billions in grants annually. This DOJ division has given millions of dollars to academics—some who have a clear bias against your right to keep and bear arms.
In his new role as an advisor, Lott tried to bring some balance to these massive grant allocations. He ran into a lot of resistance from officials in various agencies within the DOJ.
In this interview, he again discusses what he encountered at the DOJ, but he quickly explores what this new Trump administration is doing and what he hopes it does.
If you don’t know Lott, go to the Crime Prevention Research Center’s website, a group Lott founded, and check out some of the research papers Lott has written and co-written or take a look at his many books on the subject—the gun-control groups hate Lott, as he digs into the real details about guns and crime in America.
He is so disliked by gun-control groups that wanted him to be fired by the previous Trump administration. First came the gun-control groups, which all came out on the same day demanding that Lott be fired. Then came petitions on social media that Lott be fired—these were led by the gun-control groups. Finally, a group of gun-hating sent a letter to then Attorney General William Barr demanding information on Lott’s hiring. The letter called Lott “a pro-gun advocate who claims that widespread gun ownership can reduce crime.” This is a slur. Lott is a researcher and academic who has taught at many universities. His peer-reviewed research has clearly shown that gun ownership tends to reduce crime.
Gun-control groups hate Lott, as he digs into the real details about guns and crime in America. His peer-reviewed research has clearly shown that gun ownership tends to reduce crime.
Frank Miniter, “John Lott on the ATF and the Second Trump Administration,” NRA Pubs, June 14, 2025.
