John Lott, author of the book, More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, talked about the Obama administration’s release of initiatives to reduce gun violence. Topics included the 1994-2004 assault weapons ban, differences between automatic and semi-automatic firearms, and background checks for firearm purchases. Mr. Lott argued that the 1994-2004 assault weapons ban had no effect on violence in the U.S. because it banned firearms based on aesthetic instead of functional characteristics.