A group aims to give out free shotguns in 15 cities. A group of the National Rifle Association wants to hand out free shotguns in 15 cities including Chicago.

The group that wants to give out free shotguns in 15 cities is called the Armed Citizen Project. They aim, as their name states, to arm citizens by giving out free shotguns to people in medium to high crime areas. The group made the announcement at a convention in Texas, and they are gathering quite a controversy.

In Houston, at least four mothers have received three guns from the group. They target people who are living in high crime areas so that they can defend themselves from criminals. Kyle Coplen, the group's founder, believes guns are the best deterrent to criminals that exists.

"It's our hypothesis that criminals do not want to die in your hallway. We think that society should use that fear to deter crime," Coplen told press. "We're giving folks the tools with which to defend their life, liberty and property, we're training them how to use the weapons and empowering citizens."

In Houston, Coplen says his group has a goal to arm one fourth of the neighborhood they are presently targeting. They would also post signs warning criminals that the neighborhood is heavily armed.

Coplen and his group gave away 2-guage single-shot guns in Febuary in Houston. He wanted to test wehther the weapons would reduce crime in neighborhoods that were mid to high crime. 

The next goal of the Armed Citizens Project is to give out free guns to people in high-crime areas of Chicago, but they want to make sure legal issues are addressed ahead of time, so they are currently checking with lawyers to examine how to proceed. Chicago traditionally has much stricter gun laws. They eventually aim to target 15 different cities.