Do American's Really Want Stronger Gun Control Laws?
By Jerry Walch, 15th Jun 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutNewsCrime
I confess that I have a military background and have been a lifelong member of the NRA—that is the National Rifle Association, not the National Restaurant Association, or some other group that goes by that acronym. I am an avid supporter of Second Amendment Rights. Believe it or not, the majority of Americans today feel as I do. Contrary to what many of you reading this would like to believe, the majority of Americans today are not in favor of stronger gun control laws.
- Are you a supporter of laws to ban handguns?
- The real scoop on banning semiautomatic weapons or assault rifles.
- What are the feelings of Americans about laws governing the purchasing of firearms?
- What does sex have to do with it?
- What does this mean for Americans like me and for America as a whole?
Are you a supporter of laws to ban handguns?
If you are in favor of laws that would take handguns out of the hands of everyone except police officers and other duly appointed peace officers, you are in the minority. According to Gallup's annual crime poll that was conducted between October 6th and October 9th of 2011, only 26 percent of all Americans polled were in favor of laws disarming law abiding American citizens. When Gallup first polled people on handgun control in 1959, 60 percent favored banning handguns, today only 26 percent favor the banning of handguns. Since 1975, the vast majority of Americans—reaching 70 percent in recent years—oppose laws banning handguns in the United states.
The real scoop on banning semiautomatic weapons or assault rifles.
Since Gallup first polled Americans on laws pertaining to the banning of semiautomatic rifles or assault rifles in the United states in 1996, the percentages have reversed themselves. In 1996, 57 percent favored such laws while only 43 percent opposed them. Today, 53 percent oppose such laws while only 43 percent favor them.
What are the feelings of Americans about laws governing the purchasing of firearms?
In 1991, 78 percent of the Americans polled favored stricter laws, today only 43 percent favor stricter laws. In 1991, only 17 percent felt the laws governing the purchasing of guns should be kept as they currently were, today 44 percent feel that gun laws should remain as they are. In 1991, only 2 percent felt that the laws governing the buying of guns should be less strict, today 11 percent feel that they should be less restrictive.
What does sex have to do with it?
In 1991 59 percent of men and 76 percent of women advocated stronger gun control laws, today those numbers have fallen to 37 percent of men and 50 percent of women, a decrease of 22 and 26 percentage points respectively.
What does this mean for Americans like me and for America as a whole?
Americans are finally waking up and smelling the coffee. Disarming the honest citizenry will only empower the criminal elements because they will have all the guns and the citizen they prey on will be defenseless against them. Criminals will always be able to get guns no matter how many laws are passed to make it harder for the honest, law abiding citizen to buy and own them.
Read the complete Gallup News report for yourself here.
Comments
16th Jun 2012 (#)
A shame that any honest person feels they need a gun.
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16th Jun 2012 (#)
Why is that Mark? Why shouldn't the honest person have a right to defend themself or herself against the dishonest person? A gun is a tool that can be used for good or for evil but then so are knives, baseball bats, golf clubs, motor vehicles, etc. Do you advocate taking away all those things from honest people too?
I pray that it never happens to you, but I wonder if you would still feel the same way if a group of armed , dishonest, people forced their way into your home and abused your wife while you were forced to stand and watch helplessly because you had no means to defend yourself and your family against them.
Thanks for the read and comment.
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16th Jun 2012 (#)
Jerry, we should be able to protect ourselves from others that will try and do us harm. Mind you, even though I have (for the most part) dealt with and put in my past the rape, I can not fool anyone, it will 'always' stay with me, at least a little piece of it, as it will with all of us victims of violent crimes and their families. I had a shotgun until we had to pawn it last year (sucky economy <eyeroll>), it was my valentines present a few years back from the hubby. Now that things are going to be fine with us financially, I am opting for both a shotgun and a handgun in the next few weeks. The shotgun if you (the intruder) plan on keeping a distance from me and then, if you do charge me and the dogs are not in the line of fire, I am able to stop the one that wants to 'hurt me'. Put it this way, I would rather you be as far away from me as possible. If the dogs are in the line of fire, I will just wait for the clear shot, yes I am a pretty good marks(wo)man. The honest folks are the ones that need to be armed, not all those that have only the intention of hurting others. Jerry (by law) we were sent a notification of a sexual predator that is on parole and lives in my neighborhood, just down the road. What is a girl to do, I mean during the day, I am basically the only one home, that live in the 6 houses in my area. Yes I have the dogs but, they are not like my two older guys that have passed Boo and Max. Max just looked mean and scared folks, yet Boo was the big boy scraper and would kill your butt if you ever tried to hurt anyone in our family, Bugg and Tee are just too nice. Yes Bugg is big and he puts on a good look as far as, I will tear you up if you try to come on my porch but then if you did decide to walk up, he would lick the 'intruder' with kisses. I need a line of defense. I mean, let alone physically (now) I am not able to put up as much of a fight as I use to be able to. And yet, even when I did put up a fight once before, I was over powered by that man. My daughter also carries and I say, I pitty the person that ever tried to hurt this girl. To me, the bottom line is this, I have been (will be again) a responsible gun owner, I have never shot a person and I hope it never comes to that but, if someone wants to come and mess (hurt me or my family) with me, I will shoot to kill, period! Nice read. As always, thank you for sharing.:)
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16th Jun 2012 (#)
oops sorry for the long winded response but hey, you know us southerners, we never know when to stop.:)
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16th Jun 2012 (#)
And I, for one, will never get tired of listening to you talk.
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