Final answer:
The connection between gun ownership increases and drops in violent crimes, as claimed by John R. Lott, Jr., is controversial and complicated by various factors. While crime rates have declined since the 1990s, the impact of gun ownership and legislation on this trend is debated among experts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that states with the largest increases in gun ownership have seen the largest drops in violent crimes, as stated by John R. Lott, Jr., PhD, in his publication 'More Guns, Less Crime,' is a matter of ongoing debate and research within the field of criminology. However, historical data and research suggest that trends in violent crime and gun ownership are complex and cannot be reduced to simple cause-and-effect statements.
Significant legislation has shaped the regulation of firearms, such as background checks initiated in the 1980s. Yet, data shows that while crime rates in the United States have declined since the peak in the early 1990s, public perception often incorrectly believes that crime is on the rise. Additionally, there is no clear and universal correlation between gun ownership levels, 'shall-issue' laws, and decreases in crime. Policies such as sentencing laws have had mixed results on crime reduction. As such, Lott's claim about the effect of increasing gun ownership on violent crimes, particularly multiple-victim shootings, is contested by various studies and experts in the field.