I have to be honest, I’m a little shocked it’s not higher. I mean it’s common sense. Encouraging more law-abiding and responsible citizens to carry firearms for self-defense would make the country safer. Then again, the problem with common sense is that it’s not that common.
In any event, I suppose I should introduce the topic before I keep pontificating, a recent Gallup poll investigating gun ownership and gun laws in this country came to the following conclusions:
- 56% say more concealed weapons would make country safer
- Americans overwhelmingly support universal background checks
- Americans split on effect of background-check laws on mass shootings
That’s correct, a little more than half of the country correctly believes that when one takes responsibility for one’s safety, by exercising one’s right to keep and bear arms, there is an aggregate effect that makes us all safer. To state the obvious, an armed society is a polite society.
It should also be said that that’s how to maximize public safety — not by removing the individual’s right to protect oneself, but by empowering one to embrace it responsibly.
As for the other findings in the study, well, when the issue of universal background checks is presented at face value of course a majority are going to support it. In theory, I support it. In practice, however, it has the real potential to become a nightmare as it could lead to registration schemes, the criminal prosecution of neighbors who give guns to other neighbors, and de-facto taxation on the transfer of firearms, which is tantamount to taxing the Second Amendment. What this poll tells me is that the vast majority of Americans haven’t really researched or thought seriously about the issue.
Background checks don’t stop mass shootings. Just like the thousands of other laws on the books don’t stop mass shootings. The reality is that more often than not mass shooters plan their attacks well in advance and are cognizant of how to circumvent the law when required. They may be crazy, but they’re not stupid. Plus, most do not have a criminal history or a documented mental health history that would prevent them from purchasing a firearm via a gun store. So, yes, when half of the Gallup respondents question the efficacy of background checks as a means to thwart mass shootings, they are indeed correct.
Results of the latest Gallup poll. (Photo: Gallup)
“Gallup’s most recent poll on gun control shows that a majority of Americans favor stricter gun sale laws in this country. At the same time, however, less than half of Americans believe that one such stricter law — universal background checks — would prevent mass shootings,” wrote Frank Newport, director of the Gallup Poll. In fact, a majority say that if more Americans carried concealed weapons after passing background checks and training, the nation would be safer.
“Previous research shows that three in four Americans are opposed to banning handguns, and Americans in the past have overwhelmingly interpreted the Second Amendment as giving Americans the rights to own guns,” Newport continued.
“All of this research supports the conclusion that Americans believe they should be allowed to own and carry guns, but with more stringent background checks. Americans are inclined to believe that carrying properly permitted guns could make the country safer,” he concluded.
So, there you have it. What are your thoughts on this recent poll? Do you see it as good news or bad news for the health and well-being of the gun community?
Background checks are infringing on the right to keep and bear arms.
Belief in evolution can be split: There is evidence aplenty for evolution in the both the plant and animal world, but I can also see at least some reason to believe it might not apply to humans. I’ll leave it at that.
As for public opinion on more mundane subjects, the split between conservative and liberal is easier to follow; either you believe in survival of the fittest or you believe in messing with Mother Nature’s plan. Mankind survived, thrived and increased without outside intervention up until the technological explosion of a few hundred years ago. Whether the exponential increase in human population is good will be known in the near future – maybe not current generations, but in the foreseeable future.
I find it interesting that in all categories above with the exception of one, have the higher percentage saying that if citizens were armed we would be safer. I agree. The one category that disagrees by percentage is “postgraduate”. So can we say that the over educated i.e. for example most politicians, over think the issue, have no common sense i.e. book smart only or whatever. Why do we, the masses put these narrow thinkers in office and let them stay there. I would bet that most don’t own a gun, can’t nail a nail, have zero analytical ability and are thinking theological for themselves above us the majority. They will never address the majority issues, seems only the minority vote they are interested in and keeping themselves in office.
PS and yes, I’m also for a two term limit in office, just like the president. I’m tired of the majority sit on your a** politicians this country tolerates.
I think you are right, but they should be limited to three terms. Two in office and one in prison. In addition, their pension plan should be the same as the military. None until after 20 years of service and their medical should go through the VA as well. That’ll fix two problems at once!
I personally don’t agree with universal background checks because of the issues they would case with simple things like passing a gun down to your children, and because criminals are not going to obtain their guns through any method that would require a background check. On the surface, they may seem to make society safer from crazies and criminals, if you just apply a little common sense, you can see that they really won;t accomplish anything at all, just like the draconian gun control laws of places like LA and NYC and Baltimore . . . and let’s not forget Chicago, have accomplished nothing. Zero. Zip. Zilch. They have the highest murder rates in the country with the strictest gun control laws that essentially make citizens unarmed victims.
Gun control is stupid. Period. Nuff said.
I find it really interesting that 66% of the young ones (18 to 29) agreed that more CC makes it safer while on 31% of the numb skull Dems think that same way.
Just one more of many reasons to never vote for anyone with a “D” behind their name, ever again.
Popular belief does not constitute proof..
40% of Americans don’t believe in evolution.
A significant number of us believe that vaccines cause autism and that Saddam Hussein had something to do with the 911 attacks.
You’re going to have to do better than this GA.
Just like your comment doesn’t constitute any sort of proof of anything you just stated. Funny how that works…
Plus, if the evidence born out by the poll had favored Daddy Drews obvious opinion, he would have said the exact opposite, just like democraps after the election, “but she won the popular vote, wha,wha,wha”.
I have friends and relatives that cannot believe that this country has come to the point of indiscriminate mass murder as a current reality. And I would agree with Donald trump on this point that gun free zones are not a good idea. There needs to be security that can effectively defend the safety of those areas. And I believe if five percent of the population carried a small defense weapon these mass killings would be largely eliminated. The people that commit these acts are sick in their thinking, but they are not necessarily low IQ. They will head for an easy target where they can kill as many people as possible. I shopped the very spot in Tucson, AZ where public officials were slain. I was two blocks away from the school shooting when it happened in the San Diego, California area. There is a common sense way to approach this if we let go of our beliefs that this is some sort of mystery novel, and not real.