Guns in Boston with ‘Boston Legal’

By John Lott

Guns have figured frequently in "Boston Legal," with Denny Crane (William Shatner) using them defensively from time to time. Recently, in episode 3 of season 5 ("Dances with Wolves"), Denny fired a gun to defend himself from a robber who also had a gun. The robber was not really threatening, and as Denny's friend and fellow partner Alan Shore (James Spader) asked him: "Did you absolutely have to shoot [the robber]? Three times? In both feet?" Obviously the answer to all three questions was, "No."

I don't mind the humor in these shows. In fact, I laugh along with everyone else, but it would be interesting if those on the anti-gun side of this television firm (which is everyone else) would have similar fun poked at their own gun control views. Is it just not possible to think of similar jokes?

Right after Denny is shown using the gun defensively, there's a segment showing him accidentally firing a gun into the ceiling. After that we learn Denny's been carrying around eight guns and a "blow torch," which was hidden on him in a place I won't describe, though I'll admit that was also amusing.

What was most disturbing about the episode was that it was filled with facts and numbers about the problems with guns but not one fact or number on the use of guns defensively. We are treated to numbers on how many people are killed with guns or commit suicide or are accidentally killed, but no numbers on defensive gun use. Contrast that to the show's other segment regarding a child custody case where the mother is employed as a sex surrogate. Both sides in that discussion cited studies and statistics to make their point.

Click here to read the entire op-ed at Big Hollywood.