John Lott on many topics

I have only one small nitpick with Lott's arguments. At one point he makes the case that semi-autos are functionally equivalent to semi-auto hunting rifles, but that some poeple just prefer the looks of military styled weapons. People don't purchase AR or other military pattern rifles just because they prefer the looks. As in all tools, form follows function. Military weapons are designed for much greater reliability than standard hunting weapons. Semi-automatic versions that look like AKs or M-16s look the way they do because they retain these same reliability traits. This is why they are preferred for self-defense, as you really cannot afford a malfunction when the bad guy is kicking in your door. It is the same reason why a civilian Hummer looks like a military HUMVEE. When you design a rugged off road vehicle that is what it looks like. Same with semi-auto military styled rifles.