Brady Shares Opposition to DOJ’s Hire of Ideologically-Driven John Lott

Discredited researcher John Lott has made a career out of pushing lies and misinformation to serve the NRA and gun lobby.

Washington, D.C., November 24, 2020 – Following reports that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) quietly hired ignominious researcher John Lott last month, Brady shares its opposition to any position within government held by Lott, a discredited academic and researcher, whose opinions are unfounded and unsupported by facts and impede any efforts by the DOJ to prevent gun violence.

Brady President Kris Brown
shared:

“John Lott has made a career of thinly veiled disinformation, propaganda, and outright lies masquerading as fact — something with which our nation has become all too familiar. It is sad, but unsurprising that he has joined the Trump Administration in its final days. President-Elect Biden ran and won on a strong gun violence prevention platform. Lott’s 'research' and proposed faux solutions are antithetical to data, science, fact — and to the will of the American people seeking change. The fact that he was hired in secret to work within the Office of Justice Programs, which provides key funding to research and find facts about gun violence, when he is antithetical to any data-driven solution, raises serious concerns. The public servants working within the Office of Justice Programs should be principled and fact-driven, not appointed with an ideological axe to grind, who deny the reality of gun violence in America.

Let’s be clear, Mr. Lott spent time online impersonating an individual who he claimed to be a great fan of his work. He is not a serious academic, his theories have been roundly decried and debunked, and he does not belong in any position within the federal government committed to gun violence prevention. Quite simply, he needs to leave and should not be part of any Administration committed to eradicating the epidemic of gun violence. ”

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Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.


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