“Cognitive dissonance” is the mental distress brought on by simultaneously holding conflicting strong beliefs, or by encountering information that contradicts strongly held beliefs.  This stress can be reduced by changing one’s beliefs, though more commonly by denial (refusing to accept facts that contradict strongly held beliefs) or through rationalization (trying logically to justify something that is truly irrational). (more…)

Attempts to blame guns for mayhem are unfortunately frequent. In a recent Politico article Laura Kiesel cites a number of reports of violence committed with guns. Unlike many authors, she calls for a more careful examination of factors that may lead to shootings. This focus on those who commit acts rather than the means they use is commendable. She blames “toxic masculinity”, and presents data showing that—no surprise—men are more violent than women. She notes in particular that 86% of do...

[Ed: This analysis of the prospects for the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act in the Senate was first published by the author on January 10, minimally edited for DRGO.] Somehow, but unsurprisingly, the mainstream liberal media has kept under wraps the fantastic Christmas present passed by the House of Representatives on December 6, 2017 for the benefit of citizens who value freedom and their ability to protect themselves and their families outside the homes. (more…)

[From our Canadian correspondent, Gary Mauser PhD. This was first posted at Justice For Gun Owners December 5.] Rural Canada is “gun country.” But do more guns mean more crime? In 2017 StatsCan reported that both violent crime and property crime rates were higher in rural Canada than in bigger Canadian cities. If guns make people safe, how could this be true? (more…)

Recently the United States House of Representatives passed legislation to protect the right to bear arms that extends each state’s authorization to carry to all states. This was not to the liking of Daniel Webster, the Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research, an arm of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (more…)

It’s incredible that with every shooting, the Left, from politicians to sycophantic “news reporters,” start clamoring for “gun control”. The dead victims are not yet in their graves and those who survived have not even exited the operating rooms. But, let not a crisis go to waste, right? “Progressive” senators, congressmen and liberal pundits are on radio, television and other media screaming for justice, telling everyone how guns are killing our citizens, and how we must remove guns from...

Being a pediatrician, I am always on the look-out for new products related to firearms and children. So, it was with great interest that I recently ordered three new books for children, which pertain to firearms and firearm safety.   The newest of the three is a just-released book by Julie Golob, entitled, Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules. It is available through Amazon. This book, aimed at children as young as 3, is beautifully and brightly illustrated by Nancy Batra. The colorful p...

[Ed: DRGO's newest amicus brief was released yesterday, opposing California's ridiculous intent to confiscate thousands of currently owned "large-capacity" (i.e., standard) magazines from citizens who have already suffered enough at the hands of California's Big Brother state government.  Dr. Przebinda primarily worked with the authors, attorneys Joseph Greenlee of the Millenial Policy Center and David Kopel of the Independence Institute, who is one of the leading experts on the history and ...