Why the American public isn’t mad as heck about the failure of the gun bill (in numbers)

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?app=forums&module=post&section=post&do=new_post&f=145

Why the American public isn’t mad as hell about the failure of the gun bill (in numbers)

By Chris Cillizza and Sean Sullivan, Published: April 24, 2013 at 7:00 am

The Senate’s defeat of a package of popular proposals aimed at curbing gun violence last week seemed certain to foment public outrage at out-of-touch politicians who don’t listen to their constituents.

Not so much, according to a new Washington Post-Pew Research Center poll. Yes, a plurality (47 percent) describe themselves as either “angry” or “disappointed” about the failure of the gun legislation, but 39 percent call themselves “relieved” or “happy” about what happened. That’s a far cry from the 90-ish percent support that expanding background checks — the centerpiece of the proposed legislation — enjoyed.

And, among those who said they were “very closely” keeping tabs on the vote, the split was even closer; 48 percent said they were angry/disappointed while 47 percent were relieved or happy. (That piece of data is indicative of the passion gap on the issue between those supporting gun rights and those pushing for more restrictions.)

Viewed broadly, the new Post-Pew poll numbers suggest that, in the end, the Senate vote last week wound up functioning in the minds of most Americans as a sort of stand-in for how they feel about gun rights more generally as opposed to the specifics (background checks in particular) of the legislation.

So, not surprisingly, those who were most angry about the failure of the gun bill were reliably Democratic groups such as those with postgraduate degrees and those living in the Northeast.

Ditto those who described themselves as “very happy” about the collapse of the legislation. Three in 10 Republicans put themselves in that category, as did one in four whites without college degrees.

The numbers suggest that the White House wound up losing the message fight over the gun legislation. Rather than a conversation centered on widely-popular measures supported by members of both parties, the debate — at least as people perceived it — became a wider referendum on the proper place for guns in society.

[slim 1,514]

Not sure why we're voting on a right.

I wonder if we were voting on quartering troops or banning books if we'd have the same level of anger.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Not a gun fan, most people here know that, but I am also not a big fan of most gun laws. So nope, not mad.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Not sure why we're voting on a right.

I wonder if we were voting on quartering troops or banning books if we'd have the same level of anger.

Exactly Of course the 90% of Americans supported the bill Lie got exposed.

If we want to change the constitution then do it the proper way and I have no beef.