Actually this report is being put out because the NAS has weighed in on the validity of Lott's interpretation of the data. Apparently even very pro-gun law professor Eugene Volokh thinks so:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2004_12_14.shtml ... scroll down to December 17, 2004, or search for "lott".
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that it's pretty easy for lefty media to refute a claim that something (CCW's) are not responsible for nothing (additional crimes) happening.
European travel agents wouldn't have been handing out NRA packets to tourists going to Florida when they first passed their CCW if there wasn't something to it...