Huff Post poll...

[Buck Kramer]

Do you think firearm laws should be more or less strict than they are now?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/background-checks_n_2590495.html

 

[Cesiumsponge]

I'm curious how the public opinion poll they cite could get 90%+ swinging one way. You could probably hold a poll asking if "murder should be legal" and only get 80% agreement.

It's curious because another poll (http://reason.com/assets/db/13594787432940.pdf) done on various topics, including assault weapons, shows

Reason-Rupe poll finds a slim majority of Americans favor allowing private ownership of assault weapons, 44 percent say Americans should be prohibited from owning these types of firearms. Support is drawn down partisan lines with 68 percent of Republicans opposing an assault weapons ban and 62 percent of Democrats in support of such a ban. Independents tend to agree with Republicans with 57 to 37 percent.

Young Americans ages 18-24 are more supportive of private ownership of assault weapons with 70 percent saying Americans should be allowed to own assault weapons; 27 percent think they should be prohibited. In fact, majorities support allowing Americans to own assault weapons among those under 54. In contrast, older Americans believe assault weapons should be prohibited by a 23-point margin 58 percent to 36 percent.

What's also interesting is the poll asks what an assault weapon is, giving multiple options. Most people believed they were fully-automatic firearms. Reason also shows side-by-side the results of essentially the same question, worded differently by various polling institutions and the difference in the results.

 

[Kiln]

That site's polls always swing anti every time if I remember correctly.

When everybody else was showing huge opposition to the AWB, they were showing overwhelming support.

 

[Trent]

It's a liberal news outlet, what do you expect?

 

[JustinJ]

delete

 

[XD 45acp]

Throwing the Bullcrap flag on this one...

The Virginia end of it must have been taken in Northern Va or Norfolk/ Newport News areas. They wouldn't have gotten those numbers in central, and South Eastern Va.

 

[LiveLife]

Kinda like asking a poll question of "Which is better, Ford or Chevy?" on a Ford forum ...

I think by now, the greater number of "other" poll results indicate the true reflection of public sentiment.

If the antis don't like that ... well, too bad - so sorry.

 

[Ryanxia]

Obviously complete BS in the article. However I voted anyway, we're at 13% I believe.

 

[gunsandreligion]

Most people were right when they said they believed assault weapons were fully auto. They just are wrong in thinking that the semis we have are full auto.

 

[Axel Larson]

Voted

 

[Westfair]

Now I remember why I stay away from Huffpo. Reading some of the comments made me want to throw up.

I'm a pretty stand up guy, and I try to stand up for the rights of people who even disagree with me. But sometimes I really want them to be victims of their own stupidity. It's a good reminder of how the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

 

[r1derbike]

I lovingly call the outlet, "The Puffington Host".

 

[22-rimfire]

Very liberal news outlet. You always need to see how a question is framed as that often gets the desired response. If somebody favors "universal background checks" for firearm purchases, they would respond "more strict". It appears that "universal background checks" tends to be broadly favored. But again, it is a feel good kind of thing as criminals do not follow the law.

One officer on the forum mentioned that he never recovered a normally purchased weapon at a crime scene, they were all stolen. But I could see that it could happen both ways.

 

[Chevelle SS]

done

 

[wojownik]

Liberal news outlet, citing a liberal pollster outfit, conducting a poll in liberal states ... not disclosing the questions or geographic spread of the questions. If all the question were clustered in NYC, Philly and Jersey City, for example ...

Going back to the Quinnipiac center to see their actual research, the questions consisted of very broad queries, like:

"Would you favor or oppose requiring background checks on people buying guns at gun shows?"

Well, I even would tend to answer "yes" as a first thought, as well ... based on the experience that just about every gun show I've been to consists of FFLs selling firearms, so - duh - of course background checks apply ... they already do.

But, the question does not narrow to "should private transactions between law-abiding adults be subjected to a background check". I wonder ... and would bet ... that the response ratio would be different with this phrasing of question. Maybe not so different in these left-leaning states, but nationwide, the touted 90% percent for background checks might be pared down a bit with a more specific and accurate question.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Just said"No".

 

[Kiln]

Liberal news outlet, citing a liberal pollster outfit, conducting a poll in liberal states ... not disclosing the questions or geographic spread of the questions. If all the question were clustered in NYC, Philly and Jersey City, for example ...

Going back to the Quinnipiac center to see their actual research, the questions consisted of very broad queries, like:



Well, I even would tend to answer "yes" as a first thought, as well ... based on the experience that just about every gun show I've been to consists of FFLs selling firearms, so - duh - of course background checks apply ... they already do.

But, the question does not narrow to "should private transactions between law-abiding adults be subjected to a background check". I wonder ... and would bet ... that the response ratio would be different with this phrasing of question. Maybe not so different in these left-leaning states, but nationwide, the touted 90% percent for background checks might be pared down a bit with a more specific and accurate question.

Eactly. The gun show loophole is in reality a way of saying "the private sales loophole".