A poll by Pew Research out today shows that more Americans are now in favor of gun rights (52%) than favor gun control (46%). Additionally, fewer people (38%) think that gun ownership can be dangerous as opposed to those who view guns as a means of protection from becoming victims (57%.)
This is the first time in years that number of those favoring gun rights has exceeded those favoring gun control. The former have been gradually increasing over the past few years even in light of the Newtown shootings.
More below the gunshot curlicue.
This is the first time in years that number of those favoring gun rights has exceeded those favoring gun control. The former have been gradually increasing over the past few years even in light of the Newtown shootings.
The poll also breaks down the results by demographics:
54% of blacks think that owning a weapon does more to protect than to endanger. Only about 37% of whites lean toward favoring gun control while Hispanics strongly favor control (71%.)
Not surprisingly, Democrats strongly favor gun control over gun rights. 80% of Republicans are in favor of protecting gun rights.
Men favor gun rights while women lean towards gun control.
The higher the level of education, the more strongly that group favors gun control.
If you’re interested in seeing other breakdowns (age, urban/suburban, parents/non-parents, etc.) the link to the study is below:
http://www.people-press.org/...
I think can understand why some people might feel the need to get a gun for protection. Blacks, especially after the horrors of the past months: murders on video, witnessed murders, murders for no reason. Those killings were done by police. Being black, carrying a gun and going up against the police would be a very quick "suicide by cop." Republicans want guns because they can get them. Getting them gives them an ego boost and is in opposition to what they think Obama wants. I think a significant proportion of the males surveyed feel the same. "I have a right to guns and I'm gonna have as many as I want, display them and flout this gun control bullshit."
But guns are known to be dangerous even in trained hands. How many hundreds of children and adults have been "accidentally" shot since Sandy Hook? How many dozens were deliberately murdered? How many do kids get hold of and play with guns or take them to school? How many discharges? How many injuries and even deaths caused by children with firearms?
Hunter did a diary today on an open carry supporter who was never without her weapon. She was active in open carry demonstrations in Texas. http://www.dailykos.com/... Today she reportedly shot and killed her husband and his adult daughter. Had we had tighter controls on weapons, this wouldn't have happened.
In spite of increased shootings, injuries and deaths, it looks like out work to try to find a form of acceptable gun control just got harder.