Gallup released tracking today of some of the gun questions it's been asking since the 1990s, and in one case, since 1959. The results got picked up by Politico, with the headline "Don't take away guns." Sure! There is not currently a national effort (or to my knowledge, a serious state effort) to "take away" guns. Problem solved! Right?
Well, not exactly. By tracking opinions toward a handgun ban, and by looking at only a few broad questions, news and polling outlets are missing a clear and important pattern: There is widespread support for a variety of gun laws.
Two of Gallup's standard tracking questions on guns reflect the gun debate of a different time. One is "Do you think there should or should not be a law that would ban possession of handguns, except by the police and other authorized persons?" In 1959, a majority said there should be. Now, after decades have passed without any new movement on a handgun ban, a clear majority say there should not be such a law. Voters' opinions on this likely reflect the political debate, as much as the political debate reflects public opinion.
A second question shows a similar, but less dramatic pattern. It asks "Are you for or against a law which would make it illegal to manufacture, sell, or possess semiautomatic guns known as assault rifles?" A slight majority (53 percent) are now opposed to such a law, mirroring, perhaps, the lack of a major public debate on the topic.
The third Gallup question is more broad, and so shows the least amount of change in the last few years. The language: "Do you feel the laws covering the sale of guns should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are" allows respondents to reflect on the current gun law climate. In my firm's work this year for Mayors Against Illegal Guns (done with a Republican partner American Viewpoint), we've asked this question too, and found similar results to Gallup. About as many say they want "more strict" laws as want laws "kept the same." Hardly any want less strict laws. This presentation we did for MAIG (page 6) compiles data on this question from a variety of polling outlets. Recent results on gun laws are actually quite stable.
Most importantly of all, gun laws actually up for debate are incredibly popular. Our recent polling on concealed weapon reciprocity showed voters do not want Washington to allow people to bring concealed weapons to a state where they did not meet the state's requirements. This five-state bipartisan polling project for MAIG showed voters supporting a series of stricter gun laws, while opposing the less strict gun laws being debated in those states. My analysis of post-Tucson Gallup polling revealed a plurality of respondents volunteered some form of stricter gun laws as a way to "prevent mass shootings." And my post on the our bipartisan national survey for MAIG shows an incredible amount of support for a long list of gun laws, even among Republicans and in gun-owning households.
Despite hyperbolic coverage highlighting political divisions, voters are actually quite united on guns. Large numbers want to see guns out of dangerous hands, better cooperation between law enforcement agencies, concealed gun permits extended only to those meeting a state's requirements.
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The poll(conducted by Frank Lunz) that suggests NRA members seek stricter laws is HIGHLY suspect. It seems that 30% of the NRA members polled had never even heard of the landmark Heller Decision. The NRA has a members magazine, mailing campaign, and even robo calling campaigns that targets membership constantly. Also, the NRA never gives out membership info to ANYBODY. So, how did our MAIG pollster arrive at his numbers? Lunz himself is on record as saying he can get anybody to contradict their position on any topic by asking the 'Right Questions'.
Momentum Analysis is a similar organization that even boasts of manipulating the very poll that you ask them to conduct.
Regardless this is probably going to be settled in court. Americans have an individual right to bear arms. That is now settled law, the state of New Youk and others are in essence making a the argument that it is inconvenient to the state to accommodate American citizens in excercise of fundamental rights.
That argument will be seen for what it is, and rejected by the courts. It will not fly any better than arguments against school desegradation did in the 60's and 70's.
California is that much closer to Shall Issue Concealed Carry.
The ruling in the Richards v. Prieto case relied heavily on Open Carry which has now been banned.
http://bit.ly/rRY2fX
Without the option of open carry, there’s only concealed carry to implement “Bear”.
Places like Ventura County are being dragged out into the sunshine.
http://bit.ly/sc510K
This county has been violating Equal Protection for the people, tried to hide it, and lost in court. Soon to be Shall Issue.
http://bit.ly/12wIrr
Do you oppose such laws?
That must suck.
Gallup found the number of Democrats willing to come out and admit to having a sidearm jumped 8 points from 32 percent to 40 percent. Since Mr. Obama’s inauguration, the ranks of gun-toting women swelled by 10 points to 43 percent.
Finally, some change we can believe in!
Your unsubstantiated assertion will not lesson The Peoples support for the Fundamental Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Feel free to try something else.
Have a great day.
Why not conduct a poll that shows how right or left winged the media is by the actual definitions.
1) 97% of all gun crime in the lower 48 is committed by people who "CANT OWN GUNS TO BEGIN WITH"
2) The overwhelming majority of guns used in crimes are stolen or purchased by a pseudo buyer.
3) The balance of guns being used are from privatized sales where no paper work is ever done.
A few ideas on how to solve this without taking rights from those who deserve them.
#1 Eliminate the privatized sale of firearms.
#2 Require finger printing on the back of the FFL form at time of purchase. Why? Because according to the Justice department the number of "Identity Theft Purchases" has steadily risen. Fake drivers license and social security card is one thing, finger prints are not so easy to fake.
#3 Prosecute Pseudo Buyers. Pseudo buyers are people that look legitimate but really aren't. They are the baby mammas and best friends that go and buy guns on behalf of the thug that wants the gun.
#4 Last and most important is gun theft, address this and you will see illegal gun possession plummet.
Those are absolutely non-starters.
#3 Absolutely. Go git 'em.
#4 "Address"? What does this mean? Do you have a shred of evidence that illegal possession would plummet?
How? The way drug laws eliminate the private sale of illegal drugs? The way Prohibition eliminated the private sale of alcohol?
There are approx. 73 million gun owners in the US who own approx. 200 million guns. How are you going to monitor every one of those millions of gun owners and guns 24/7 to make sure someone isn't selling a gun privately? More importantly, since only a tiny fraction of those guns will be used for criminal purposes, why would you want to?