Gallup Polls boss: More Americans oppose gun control than ever

[peejay 327]

Gallup boss: More Americans oppose gun control than ever

May 5, 2009

Amid a wave of publicity about school shootings and drug-related gun violence along the Mexican border, more Americans than ever oppose government efforts to regulate guns, Gallup's top pollster said today.

Frank Newport, the editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll, told a breakfast meeting of reporters hosted by the Christian Science Monitor that "every bit of data is showing us that Americans are getting more conservative about gun control."

Newport cited polling conducted by Gallup, the Pew Research Center and CNN to back up his contention that "attitudes toward gun control have become more conservative -- not wanting more gun control."

The veteran pollster said the growing opposition to gun control is "counterintuitive" because of the heavy media focus on the use of assault weapons to kill police officers and school students, as well as the coverage of drug-cartel lawlessness in Mexico.

But he said that Americans are clearly saying that they want gun laws to "stay as they are" or become "less strict" rather than becoming "more strict."

"The NRA is in a pretty good position, public-opinion-wise," Newport said.

A CNN poll conducted in April found that 39 percent of Americans wanted stricter gun control laws, down from 50 percent in 2000. Another 46 percent said the gun laws should stay as they are, while 15 percent said they should be loosened--up from 9 percent in 2000.

When asked to identify the best way to reduce gun violence, 61 percent of Americans said stronger enforcement of existing laws, while 27 percent opted for stronger laws, according to an ABC News-Washington Post poll, also conducted in April.

Even an assault-weapon ban is not the political "sure thing" it once was. An Apr. 23-26 poll by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal found that support for curbing the sale of assault weapons and semiautomatic rifles has dropped from 75 percent in 1991 to 53 percent today.

The shifting public mood on gun issues is the reason why the Obama administration is not trying to reinstate the assault-weapons ban that former President Bush allowed to expire in 2004. Obama and other administration officials said they have decided instead to adopt a strategy of enforcing existing laws.

http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/2009/05/g...ricans_opp.html

[Ban Hammer 14,294]

"The NRA is in a pretty good position, public-opinion-wise," Newport said.

A CNN poll conducted in April found that 39 percent of Americans wanted stricter gun control laws, down from 50 percent in 2000. Another 46 percent said the gun laws should stay as they are, while 15 percent said they should be loosened--up from 9 percent in 2000.

6 out of 10 liberals will need cpr after reading that.

[JimandChristy 1,689]

"The NRA is in a pretty good position, public-opinion-wise," Newport said.

A CNN poll conducted in April found that 39 percent of Americans wanted stricter gun control laws, down from 50 percent in 2000. Another 46 percent said the gun laws should stay as they are, while 15 percent said they should be loosened--up from 9 percent in 2000.

6 out of 10 liberals will need cpr after reading that.

6 out of 10 republicans will be stroking their guns at the moment....whispering in Gollum fashion "My Preciousss"

[justashooter 430]

"The NRA is in a pretty good position, public-opinion-wise," Newport said.

A CNN poll conducted in April found that 39 percent of Americans wanted stricter gun control laws, down from 50 percent in 2000. Another 46 percent said the gun laws should stay as they are, while 15 percent said they should be loosened--up from 9 percent in 2000.

6 out of 10 liberals will need cpr after reading that.

6 out of 10 republicans will be stroking their guns at the moment....whispering in Gollum fashion "My Preciousss"

the funny thing is that it's not just the conservatives buying guns these days. i just worked the biggest gun show on the east coast, and have never before seen so many liberals buying guns. in a way, it kinda frightening.

one of the people i helped buy an AK47 was a really cute female college student who is just about to graduate with a degree in biology, and is scheduled to pursue a masters program in micro biology. she wants to be a phd in medical research, and related that she is frustrated that her vote for osama has driven up the price of guns - now that she's buying one. another fellow bought an AR15 and asked me what kind of bullets it used, and did i have any to sell him. he was the typical late 20's young professional, and prolly an osama voter, too. i didn't ask.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A reasonable question would be how exactly you *know* the political views of customers on diverse issues - short of getting into a protracted discussion with them.

Though I hazard a guess that your "Spider Sense" doesn't require conversation.

[Ban Hammer 14,294]

"The NRA is in a pretty good position, public-opinion-wise," Newport said.

A CNN poll conducted in April found that 39 percent of Americans wanted stricter gun control laws, down from 50 percent in 2000. Another 46 percent said the gun laws should stay as they are, while 15 percent said they should be loosened--up from 9 percent in 2000.

6 out of 10 liberals will need cpr after reading that.

6 out of 10 republicans will be stroking their guns at the moment....whispering in Gollum fashion "My Preciousss"

the funny thing is that it's not just the conservatives buying guns these days. i just worked the biggest gun show on the east coast, and have never before seen so many liberals buying guns. in a way, it kinda frightening.

one of the people i helped buy an AK47 was a really cute female college student who is just about to graduate with a degree in biology, and is scheduled to pursue a masters program in micro biology. she wants to be a phd in medical research, and related that she is frustrated that her vote for osama has driven up the price of guns - now that she's buying one. another fellow bought an AR15 and asked me what kind of bullets it used, and did i have any to sell him. he was the typical late 20's young professional, and prolly an osama voter, too. i didn't ask.

didn't you get the memo? if you own any firearms, you're automatically a republican!

[almaty 19]

"The NRA is in a pretty good position, public-opinion-wise," Newport said.

A CNN poll conducted in April found that 39 percent of Americans wanted stricter gun control laws, down from 50 percent in 2000. Another 46 percent said the gun laws should stay as they are, while 15 percent said they should be loosened--up from 9 percent in 2000.

6 out of 10 liberals will need cpr after reading that.

6 out of 10 republicans will be stroking their guns at the moment....whispering in Gollum fashion "My Preciousss"

...not a republican..but i like to stroke my snub nose

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So that means when you've got 66% percent of Americans in favor of universal healthcare...there's an overlap. Imagine that...Americans who aren't ideologues.

[Ban Hammer 14,294]

"The NRA is in a pretty good position, public-opinion-wise," Newport said.

A CNN poll conducted in April found that 39 percent of Americans wanted stricter gun control laws, down from 50 percent in 2000. Another 46 percent said the gun laws should stay as they are, while 15 percent said they should be loosened--up from 9 percent in 2000.

6 out of 10 liberals will need cpr after reading that.

6 out of 10 republicans will be stroking their guns at the moment....whispering in Gollum fashion "My Preciousss"

...not a republican..but i like to stroke my snub nose

but is it a single shot or a six shooter

[justashooter 430]

A reasonable question would be how exactly you *know* the political views of customers on diverse issues - short of getting into a protracted discussion with them.

Though I hazard a guess that your "Spider Sense" doesn't require conversation.

if you knew anything about the art of sales, my little friend, you would know that feigning interest in a prospective customer builds their confidence, and increases the likelihood of making a sale. if you're a fellow like me, generally interested in the people around you, you don't even have to fake it.

you're much too self centered to make a good salesman.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A reasonable question would be how exactly you *know* the political views of customers on diverse issues - short of getting into a protracted discussion with them.

Though I hazard a guess that your "Spider Sense" doesn't require conversation.

if you knew anything about the art of sales, my little friend, you would know that feigning interest in a prospective customer builds their confidence, and increases the likelihood of making a sale. if you're a fellow like me, generally interested in the people around you, you don't even have to fake it.

you're much too self centered to make a good salesman.

And you're a shitty judge of character

[Nagishkaw 510]

A like stroking a 9mm . The slide is better.

[Kevin and 10]

Anyone want to stroke long rifles?