Polls Show Record Low Support for Stricter Gun Laws

[Smokepole]

Polls Show Record Low Support for Stricter Gun Laws

By National Rifle Association ,

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

Results from a just-released Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that, more and more, Americans are in support of the Second Amendment and its individual guarantee of law-abiding citizens to Keep and Bear Arms, and oppose more restrictions on that right.

Among the surveys highlights:

*Only 39% of Americans say the United States needs stricter gun control;

*50% are opposed to stricter gun control laws and 11% are not sure;

*69% of adults say city governments do not have the right to prevent citizens from owning handguns;

*87% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats, and 72% of "unaffiliateds" say cities do not have the right to ban handgun ownership;

*71% of Americans continue to believe that the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of an average citizen to own a gun, and;

*63% of voters agreed with the Supreme Court's landmark District of Columbia v. Heller decision, saying the Second Amendment granted individuals the right to own a gun for self-defense.

Also released this week were the results of a new Gallup poll (Gallup's annual Crime Poll, conducted October 1-4, 2009). The results of this poll show that a new low of only 44% of Americans who say the laws covering firearm sales should be made stricter.That is down five points in the last year, and 34 points from the high of 78%, recorded the first time the question was asked in 1990.

The Gallup poll also found a new low in the percentage of Americans favoring a ban on handgun possession except by the police and other authorized persons, a question that dates back to 1959. Only 28% now favor such a ban.

The poll states that, "Compared with views in 2000, each major demographic or attitudinal subgroup has shown a shift toward a more pro-gun stance on the question about whether gun laws should be more strict or less strict."

In conclusion, the poll found that, "Americans continue to trend toward holding attitudes that are more in favor of gun rights, and Gallup today finds new low points in favor of gun control on two separate measures dating back at least two decades," and that, "the current poll marks the first time Gallup has not found a significantly higher proportion of Americans preferring tighter gun-sale regulations."

The results of these latest polls make clear—yet again—that more and more Americans overwhelmingly support our Second Amendment rights and lawful gun ownership and reject gun control schemes.

http://www.opposingviews.com/article...s-r-1255283875

[hopeitsfast]

It doesn't matter what 'we the people' want. It's what the .gov thinks we should have.

[CoonDog]

*...39% of Americans say the United States needs stricter gun control;

Actually, I find this statistic particularly stupefying.

[Beretta8045]

Originally Posted by hopeitsfast

It doesn't matter what 'we the people' want. It's what the .gov thinks we should have.

Agreed. Congress thinks it knows what's good for everyone, but that's probably why it's approval rating is almost 20% now.

[yks7]

Originally Posted by Beretta8045

Agreed. Congress thinks it knows what's good for everyone, but that's probably why it's approval rating is almost 20% now.

WOW its acually that high!!!!!!!!!

[Beretta8045]

Originally Posted by yks7

WOW its acually that high!!!!!!!!!

Last I heard, I think it was mid-low 20s.

I'd like to know who those 20% are.

[Astrogiblet]

Originally Posted by Beretta8045

I'd like to know who those 20% are.

Probably the 20% of people that don't read/watch/listen to the news or follow politics.

The Republicans are a minority and too busy bashing the Dems to get anything done. The Dems are too busy stepping on their own heels and voting against their own party to get anything done.

[Jack Flash]

Originally Posted by Astrogiblet

Probably the 20% of people that don't read/watch/listen to the news or follow politics...

No, it's the 20% that believe their only path to prosperity is free government handouts...

[xdmlapeer]

I think there should have been another question.. Do you think that the government should work harder on enforcing the LAWS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE for gun control.. The last thing we need is another law that restricts the law abiding citizen from his/her right to protect him/her and his family but does nothing to keep a criminal from getting a gun if you don't enforce the law..

[binksy09]

Originally Posted by xdmlapeer

I think there should have been another question.. Do you think that the government should work harder on enforcing the LAWS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE for gun control.. The last thing we need is another law that restricts the law abiding citizen from his/her right to protect him/her and his family but does nothing to keep a criminal from getting a gun if you don't enforce the law..

I think the government has done enough good will work in the name of "enforcing laws". At this point they would be flattering me . I think we need less government at this point, because it always seems like there just aren't enough laws or bureaucrat pimps to enforce them. The first step is to bring it down to the state level and pull the plug on the federal governments power.
The next step is to bring it to local levels in the state, this decentralizes power across the spectrum making it nearly impossible to disarm the citizenry or make laws pertaining to because these people will actually be held accountable. Why do you think we have had a strong central government and a continuous streak of Presidency's where the commander and chief acts like a cowboy?
It is easier to allocate power into the hands of the few at the federal level (centralization of power) and call the shots like the duke , but much harder when there is no organization or large body to pass laws downward (Top down approach). State or local government would encourage the bottom up approach and we the people would truly be in charge.