Posted on 08/08/2012 6:48:01 AM PDT by marktwain
More than seven-in-ten respondents believe the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle should only be used by the police and other authorized persons.
Nine-in-ten Americans maintain their views on the Second Amendment, but a majority of gun owners and non-gun owners alike believe that the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle should only be used by the police and other authorized persons, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
The online survey of a representative national sample of 1,010 American adults also found that support for the “shall-issue” prerogative to carry concealed weapons in public has increased over the past six months.
Second Amendment and Federal Guidelines
Across the United States, 90 per cent of respondents think that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution means that individuals have the right to keep and bear arms, while only five per cent disagree with this view.
There is an evident split when Americans are asked their opinion of current federal regulations related to firearm ownership, with 46 per cent of respondents claiming to be satisfied with these guidelines, and 43 per cent expressing dissatisfaction.
Gun owners (61%), Republicans (54%) and Independents (48%) are more likely be satisfied with the status quo on firearms regulations, while half of Democrats (50%) and Americans who do not own a gun (49%) are dissatisfied.
Half of Americans (49%) believe firearms laws in the United States should be stricter, including 71 per cent of Democrats, 60 per cent of respondents who do not own a gun, and 46 per cent of Independents. Both gun owners and Republicans would rather keep existing regulations, or enact looser ones.
Types of Weapons and Concealed Carry
For this survey, respondents were shown three pictures of firearms and asked whether they should be available to every American who is eligible to own firearms, or only to the police and other authorized persons. These weapons were reportedly used in last month’s mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado.
A majority of respondents believe the .40-calibre Glock handgun (63%) and the Remington 870 shotgun (58%) should remain accessible to every American who is eligible to own firearms. However, 73 per cent of Americans—including sizeable majorities of Republicans (66%) and gun owners (61%)—believe the AR-15 rifle should only be used by the police and other authorized persons.
On the question of concealed carry—where states have enacted different regulations—practically three-in-five respondents (58%, +7 since January) favor the “shall-issue” notion of allowing citizens to carry a concealed weapon if they meet specific criteria laid out in the law. Gun owners (66%) and people who do not own a gun (52%) agree on this issue.
Note that the respondents were only shown a picture, and were not told if the rifle was a semi-automatic or a full auto version. This is the old Josh Sugarman VPC propaganda ploy.
I recall telling a veteran and gun owner, who opined that the public should not have "assault weapons" if he knew that the rifles they were talking about were the semi-automatic version. He was shocked to find that they were, and had been completely convinced that all the furor was about machine guns, fully automatic weapons.
I say BS!
You should provide a link, maybe get the admin to mod this post, because there is no way to refute what we cannot examine.
I'm authorized by the 2nd Ammendment.
I agree, also if they want them, come and get them. No problem but ammo goes first.
Fully or semi auto is irrelevant. All weapons available to the military should be legal for the populace to own.
Agree - this was skewed to get the result that the anti-gunners wanted.
Another attempt to boil the frog. Next the AK, then the 50 Cal, SKS same caliber as the AK, I have a hi cap mag on mine. Along with all this will be a law that every owner and penitential owner will have to have a exam by a shrink.
I have been a gun owner and CCW holder for many, many years and have NEVER been included in these “polls”
Here is a link: http://www.angus-reid.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2012.08.07_Guns_USA.pdf
I find it very telling that the Dem/Rep/Ind split is not detailed.
I also find it EXTREMELY telling that all they do is show a picture and gauge from that. Pictures are meaningless when opposed to actual function.
I also find it TREBLY telling that Angus Reid Public Opinion was a Canadian company before it was bought by, and is now operated by, the French.
This is pure anti-gun agitprop. HOWEVER, I am delighted they are pushing a harsh gun control meme JUST before this 2012 election. 1994 isn’t all that long ago, and we remember how THAT turned out for them.
Yup.
When a poll says “x percent of RESPONDANTS”, we need to know a few things: Where were the samples taken? What was the weighting (especially given the extreme democrat weighting in recent national polls)?
My opinion is that this “poll” is utter BS. If it were true, the Obamunists would be running on an AWB platform.
I’d be willing to compromise and carry an AR-10, rather than an AR-15? Just tryin’ to find a middle ground here, ya know?
A majority of respondents believe the .40-calibre Glock handgun (63%) and the Remington 870 shotgun (58%) should remain accessible to every American who is eligible to own firearms. However, 73 per cent of Americans—including sizeable majorities of Republicans (66%) and gun owners (61%)—believe the AR-15 rifle should only be used by the police and other authorized persons.
You know, the thing about a RIGHT is that it exists regardless of what somebody else, or even everybody else, thinks.
Besides, I think that there is simply no way that 61% of gun owners think that ARs should only be for the po-po is a steaming pile of BS. Polls and statistics are 2 of the most easily manipulated things on Earth - set the terms for the debate and you win, its that simple.
Besides, I think that the conclusion that 61% of gun owners think that ARs should only be for the po-po is a steaming pile of BS. Polls and statistics are 2 of the most easily manipulated things on Earth - set the terms for the debate and you win, its that simple.
You have to understand that your dealing with an uneducated media and public who think all rifles are machine guns.
We have those same clowns in our government here in Connecticut.You can’t even own an AR-15 or anything that looks like it here.
Our government leaves us damn near defeneless ant that won’t be changing anytime soon since the liberal democrats run the show.
The importance of basing a nation on liberty: that the rights of informed affected individuals are not stifled by the whims of ignorant uninvolved masses.
WHAT is the SOURCE for this information? The Nw York Times or CBS poll????????????
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus_reid_public_opinion
Its just another biased poll conducted by leftists in Canada to influence American public opinion.
Its PAST time the NRA start using its BRAINS and conduct polls favorable to US.
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