Majority back ban on handguns in checked baggage

YouGov Polls ^ | 10 January 2017 | YouGov Poll

[backwoods-engineer]

Most Americans, including half of independents and Republicans, support a ban on checking handguns into aircraft baggage

In recent years, America has, unfortunately, become used to mass shootings, but the recent mass shooting by an Iraq War veteran in Fort Lauderdale has sparked some concern. In the shooting at the Florida city's airport, the man, Estaban Santiago, had checked a handgun into his baggage. After retrieving it from the carousel he loaded it in a bathroom and then allegedly murdered five people, exposing a weakness in airport security.

The latest research from YouGov finds that most Americans (57%) support a ban on checking handguns into luggage, while only 26% oppose a ban. Support for a ban is strongest among Democrats (72%) but even 49% of independents and Republicans support the measure.

The partisan divide on the issue of handguns on planes is markedly smaller than the divide when it comes to general laws on the sale of handguns. While 73% of Democrats want it to be harder to buy a handgun, only 32% of Republicans agree.

[Reno89519]

Common denominator in terrorist attacks is Islam, not guns, machetes, cars, trucks, etc. Ban Islam. Put anyone supporting Islam on no-fly lists, if immigrants, has them to renounce or leave the US.

[ZULU]

I bet this group polled Hillary as the projected winner.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for your response.

Glad to be wrong on that, if I was.

[Hot Tabasco]

A rational person transporting his firearm has nothing to do with so-called mass shootings.

Every person connected with a mass shooting was considered a rational person until they opened fire..........

I have no problem with firearms in checked baggage since that's been the only way I and other hunters could transport them to destination hunting trips. But I don't support them in carry on baggage.......

[rbg81]

I think entropy12 is saying the same thing as me. People can carry guns into any unsecured area. So how the guns get into that unsecured area is almost irrelevant.

I also do not support guns in carry-on bags, unless its carried by LE (of course).

[stevio]

I agree, this is BS. How are the majority of us suppose to transport our weapons? They keep tryin’ and keep lyin’. Let’s ban Islam instead.

[Reno89519]

Metal detectors in unprotected gun-free zones create killing zones like at the airport. No police around to stop the shooter, everyone else disarmed.

[Gator113]

I don’t believe in any polls anymore and probably never will.

This attack on gun owners is ridiculous.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree with you both there.

By process of elimination, the critical points you both touched on are already open.

No need to argue a point about another way to get a gun into them, since guns are already allowed in them.

Thanks for the additional note.

[DCBryan1]

A majority of people are dumbasses. Hell, look at 62mm people that voted for ....>HILLARY!.....you should be scared, very scared that there are that many dumb people in America.

[entropy12]

A good example of gun-violence-free places is Federal court buildings, State court buildings, Federal office buildings, etc. All are equipped with metal detectors and no terror event takes place there.

[ctdonath2]

Unintended consequence: “keep and bear” would come under direct scrutiny, possibly resulting in full right to carry in the cabin.

[Innovative]

Stupid!

Punishing everyone because of one bad guy.

[meyer]

It would be MUCH more effective to ban muslims from flying. Or even being here.

[TheBigJ]

The baggage handlers have access. And lots of Muslims work as baggage handlers. A Muslim connects with a TSA employee and delivers a gun to him in his luggage.

Transporting firearms, even prop guns, flare guns requires one to use non TSA locks. Only the individual flying has the key. This is why many transporting sensitive electronic equipment have heavy locks on custom luggage and throw in a fake gun or regular gun just to have that security.

[Red in Blue PA]

Isn’t this the same poll which had Hillary up by double digits?

[Irish Eyes]

.......................................................I would not be surprised if the next time we see him that he will be hopped up on psychotropic with his brain fried and looking like the Arizona and Colorado shooters.

What exactly does this mean?

From Arizona.

[relictele]

Every person connected with a mass shooting was considered a rational person until they opened fire......

Sorry but this is demonstrably false even though it sounds seductive and dramatic. In far too many cases eg Sandy Hook we later learned that the gunmen were already under suspicion of mental illness, were on psychotropic drugs (or stopped taking them), had been diagnosed, restrained, even involuntarily committed but released, etc.

[Hawthorn]

>> baggage carousels are in non-secure areas, anyone could walk in from the street <<

Looks like we need a new law, making it illegal to walk into a baggage area from the street. That’ll stop ‘em!

[Squantos]

No friggin way did they talk to all independents and republicans ... polls are propaganda / disinformation tools .... see “” Clinton can’t lose “” as presstitute proof.

BTW...I’m all for not putting my sidearm in checked luggage .... let me wear it on the plane.