Pilgrim
Member
Do you agree with the National Rifle Association's viewpoint on gun ownership rights and the second amendment?
Go to Harris Interactive and select weekly poll.
Pilgrim
Go to Harris Interactive and select weekly poll.
Pilgrim
Harris Poll on NRA & 2nd Amendment
- Thread starter Pilgrim
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Mike Irwin
Member
41% of respondents strongly agree with NRA's position.
Brett Bellmore
Member
Darn, where's the "The NRA compromises too much." option?
Preacherman
Member
Come on, THR, we can do better than this!
cuchulainn
Member
The NRA supports background checks.
cuchulainn
Member
AZTOY
Member
Weekly Poll Results
Do you agree with the National Rifle Association's viewpoint on gun ownership rights and the second amendment?
*Strongly agree, the government should not be dictating how citizens choose to protect themselves or infringe on responsible recreational firearm use. 4057 of 5308 votes
76%
Somewhat agree, we need to be careful about restricting rights that are protected under the Constitution. 345 of 5308 votes
6%
Undecided, I'm not sure what the proper balance is between the Constitution and public safety. 140 of 5308 votes
2%
Somewhat disagree, some reforms (background checks for handgun applicants or bans on armor-piercing bullets, for instance) make good sense. 396 of 5308 votes
7%
Strongly disagree, the NRA has distorted the intent of the second amendment and has helped foster a gun culture that is irresponsible and dangerous. 370 of 5308 votes
6%
Do you agree with the National Rifle Association's viewpoint on gun ownership rights and the second amendment?
*Strongly agree, the government should not be dictating how citizens choose to protect themselves or infringe on responsible recreational firearm use. 4057 of 5308 votes
76%
Somewhat agree, we need to be careful about restricting rights that are protected under the Constitution. 345 of 5308 votes
6%
Undecided, I'm not sure what the proper balance is between the Constitution and public safety. 140 of 5308 votes
2%
Somewhat disagree, some reforms (background checks for handgun applicants or bans on armor-piercing bullets, for instance) make good sense. 396 of 5308 votes
7%
Strongly disagree, the NRA has distorted the intent of the second amendment and has helped foster a gun culture that is irresponsible and dangerous. 370 of 5308 votes
6%
mantispid
Member
That would have been my response... of course, it would likely be misinterpreted.
Why would I choose that? Well, because I think the NRA HAS distorted the intent of the Second Amendment to mean 'hunting and sporting uses only'. I never hear the NRA leadership talk about the right of firearm ownership as a check against government tyranny. And yes, they are fostering an irresponsible gun culture that thinks 'sporting uses' are what should really be protected.
Now, I know most of the folks who frequent this site know the real purpose of the 2nd.
Even though I'm a life NRA member (now regretting it), I'm not going to give them any more support until they start talking about the right of private citizens to own military hardware, or at the very least start moving in that direction. I'm not going to hold my breath.
*Strongly agree, the government should not be dictating how citizens choose to protect themselves or infringe on responsible recreational firearm use. 4203 of 5476 votes
76%
Somewhat agree, we need to be careful about restricting rights that are protected under the Constitution. 350 of 5476 votes
6%
Undecided, I'm not sure what the proper balance is between the Constitution and public safety. 141 of 5476 votes
2%
Somewhat disagree, some reforms (background checks for handgun applicants or bans on armor-piercing bullets, for instance) make good sense. 405 of 5476 votes
7%
Strongly disagree, the NRA has distorted the intent of the second amendment and has helped foster a gun culture that is irresponsible and dangerous. 377 of 5476 votes
6%
Looks like we're winning...
Jeff
76%
Somewhat agree, we need to be careful about restricting rights that are protected under the Constitution. 350 of 5476 votes
6%
Undecided, I'm not sure what the proper balance is between the Constitution and public safety. 141 of 5476 votes
2%
Somewhat disagree, some reforms (background checks for handgun applicants or bans on armor-piercing bullets, for instance) make good sense. 405 of 5476 votes
7%
Strongly disagree, the NRA has distorted the intent of the second amendment and has helped foster a gun culture that is irresponsible and dangerous. 377 of 5476 votes
6%
Looks like we're winning...
Jeff
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
America's civil rights are way ahead.
Stickjockey
Member
Up to 78% strongly agreeing.
PATH
Member
Just voted and we are still at 78%. BUMP
Please go vote!
Please go vote!
*Strongly agree, the government should not be dictating how citizens choose to protect themselves or infringe on responsible recreational firearm use. 5105 of 6465 votes
78%
Somewhat agree, we need to be careful about restricting rights that are protected under the Constitution. 385 of 6465 votes
5%
Undecided, I'm not sure what the proper balance is between the Constitution and public safety. 146 of 6465 votes
2%
Somewhat disagree, some reforms (background checks for handgun applicants or bans on armor-piercing bullets, for instance) make good sense. 426 of 6465 votes
6%
Strongly disagree, the NRA has distorted the intent of the second amendment and has helped foster a gun culture that is irresponsible and dangerous. 403 of 6465 votes
6%
I do have serious issues with the NRA. I just didn't see my thoughts represented on the poll so I had to choose the first option.
78%
Somewhat agree, we need to be careful about restricting rights that are protected under the Constitution. 385 of 6465 votes
5%
Undecided, I'm not sure what the proper balance is between the Constitution and public safety. 146 of 6465 votes
2%
Somewhat disagree, some reforms (background checks for handgun applicants or bans on armor-piercing bullets, for instance) make good sense. 426 of 6465 votes
6%
Strongly disagree, the NRA has distorted the intent of the second amendment and has helped foster a gun culture that is irresponsible and dangerous. 403 of 6465 votes
6%
I do have serious issues with the NRA. I just didn't see my thoughts represented on the poll so I had to choose the first option.
7.62FullMetalJacket
Member
*Strongly agree, the government should not be dictating how citizens choose to protect themselves or infringe on responsible recreational firearm use. 5117 of 6479 votes
78%
Somewhat agree, we need to be careful about restricting rights that are protected under the Constitution. 385 of 6479 votes
5%
Undecided, I'm not sure what the proper balance is between the Constitution and public safety. 146 of 6479 votes
2%
Somewhat disagree, some reforms (background checks for handgun applicants or bans on armor-piercing bullets, for instance) make good sense. 428 of 6479 votes
6%
Strongly disagree, the NRA has distorted the intent of the second amendment and has helped foster a gun culture that is irresponsible and dangerous. 403 of 6479 votes
6%
Need Help!!!! Stuck at 78%
78%
Somewhat agree, we need to be careful about restricting rights that are protected under the Constitution. 385 of 6479 votes
5%
Undecided, I'm not sure what the proper balance is between the Constitution and public safety. 146 of 6479 votes
2%
Somewhat disagree, some reforms (background checks for handgun applicants or bans on armor-piercing bullets, for instance) make good sense. 428 of 6479 votes
6%
Strongly disagree, the NRA has distorted the intent of the second amendment and has helped foster a gun culture that is irresponsible and dangerous. 403 of 6479 votes
6%
Need Help!!!! Stuck at 78%
jimpeel
Member
7.62FullMetalJacket
There. Is that better?
There. Is that better?
Sam Adams
Member
I just saw this on Free Republic and voted. We are at 82%. Come on folks, keep voting!!
MuzzleBlast
Member
You weren't around for Wayne LaPierre's "jack-booted government thugs" letter?
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
Talk about a slanted poll... it mentions "some reforms are needed" and then lists "reforms" that are over 10 years old - also without mentioning that the NRA had quite a bit of input on both proposals.
Andrew Rothman
Member
84%
jimpeel
Member
Just checked it.
answerguy
Member
Did you read this?
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=230
62% - 22% majority of all adults favor stricter gun controls in general, and an even larger 69% - 18% majority favor stricter control of handguns in a Harris Poll of 1,011 adults surveyed by telephone between March 22 and 26. These results are very similar to the replies to these same questions when they were asked in 1999 and 2000, but slightly less overwhelming than they were in 1998, soon after several highly publicized shootings by children.
In a democracy, one might expect that these overwhelming (more or less 3 to 1) majorities would have some impact on elected legislators. However, the National Rifle Association (NRA), fierce opponents of any and all gun controls, while representing the view of only a minority of the public, clearly punch over the weight. Those opposed to stricter gun controls may be more likely to vote on this issue than those who favor them. Whatever the reason, many elected officials, in Congress and in State Legislatures, particularly but not only Republicans, seem to be in thrall to the NRA and the gun lobby, albeit less than they were in the seventies and eighties.
While most people (60%) believe that the easy availability of handguns contributes "a lot" to violence in our society, even more (86%) believe that lack of adult supervision of children does so. Majorities also believe that TV (55%) and movies (53%) also contribute a lot to violence. Substantial minorities believe that video games (47%) and local TV news reports (30%) are also to blame.
Given Republican control of both houses of Congress and President Bush's record as "a friend of the NRA," there seems little likelihood that the support of most Americans for stricter controls will be satisfied in the near future.
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=230
62% - 22% majority of all adults favor stricter gun controls in general, and an even larger 69% - 18% majority favor stricter control of handguns in a Harris Poll of 1,011 adults surveyed by telephone between March 22 and 26. These results are very similar to the replies to these same questions when they were asked in 1999 and 2000, but slightly less overwhelming than they were in 1998, soon after several highly publicized shootings by children.
In a democracy, one might expect that these overwhelming (more or less 3 to 1) majorities would have some impact on elected legislators. However, the National Rifle Association (NRA), fierce opponents of any and all gun controls, while representing the view of only a minority of the public, clearly punch over the weight. Those opposed to stricter gun controls may be more likely to vote on this issue than those who favor them. Whatever the reason, many elected officials, in Congress and in State Legislatures, particularly but not only Republicans, seem to be in thrall to the NRA and the gun lobby, albeit less than they were in the seventies and eighties.
While most people (60%) believe that the easy availability of handguns contributes "a lot" to violence in our society, even more (86%) believe that lack of adult supervision of children does so. Majorities also believe that TV (55%) and movies (53%) also contribute a lot to violence. Substantial minorities believe that video games (47%) and local TV news reports (30%) are also to blame.
Given Republican control of both houses of Congress and President Bush's record as "a friend of the NRA," there seems little likelihood that the support of most Americans for stricter controls will be satisfied in the near future.
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