Poll shows gun ownership in decline

Portland Press Herald ^ | 6/29/16 | Christopher Ingraham

[Haiku Guy]

The percent of American households owning guns is at a near-40 year low in the latest CBS News poll released this month.

According to the survey, which was conducted among 1,001 Americans in the aftermath of the Orlando, Florida, nightclub shooting, 36 percent of U.S. adults either own a firearm personally, or live with someone who does. That’s the lowest rate of gun ownership in the CBS poll going back to 1978. It’s down 17 points from the highest recorded rate in 1994, and nearly 10 percentage points from 2012.

(snip)

[1Old Pro]

This poll is funny, more and more people are arming themselves.

[Haiku Guy]

To hear people talk, you would think that certain lake and river bottoms are more metal than mud.

[JimRed]

The population of ex-felons and immigrants here who can’t legally own guns is at an all-time high.

Any law barring them from owning arms is unconstitutional. if they shouldn't be armed, they shouldn't be roaming around free.

[moovova]

“Do you own a gun?”

“No, ma’am.”

[Haiku Guy]

Any law barring them from owning arms is unconstitutional. if they shouldn't be armed, they shouldn't be roaming around free.

You're not supposed to have an answer to that question!

You're supposed to just sit around with a stupid and uncomfortable look on your face.

But, fear not... Even if you do have an answer to that question, we have plenty of B-Roll footage that we can spice in to make it look like you don't...

[libertylover]

That’s the lowest rate of gun ownership in the CBS poll going back to 1978

So why is there such an increase in people murdered by Muslim terrorists? Hint to liberals: keyword=Muslim.

[SkyDancer]

Never can tell when your gun will get up in the middle of the night and slay the entire family.

[wbarmy]

That was my first (and only) thought on the matter. Who in America right now that owns a gun would honestly tell the questioner anything remotely true.

I assume that all of the positive surveyed have already been added to the NFAP(?) database for future questioning.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

With record setting sales every month, I’m calling BS on the article and poll!

[Haiku Guy]

“Do you own a gun?”

“No, ma’am.”

"No, ma'am... I own lots and lots of guns!"

[Iron Munro]

Poll shows gun ownership in decline

Is Gun Ownership Really Down In America?

By John R. Lott Published March 12, 2015 FoxNews.com

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/03/12/is-gun-ownership-really-down-in-america.html

We should be very careful of relying too heavily on polling to gauge the level of gun ownership.

In a 2003 book of mine, I quoted Smith as saying that the large drop in gun ownership would “make it easier for politicians to do the right thing on guns” and pass more restrictive regulations.

Other gun control advocates have mentioned to me that they hope that if people believe fewer people own guns, that may cause others to rethink their decision to own one themselves. It is part of the reason they dramatically exaggerate the risks of having guns in the home.

A 2011 Gallup poll with the headline “Self-Reported Gun Ownership in U.S. Is Highest Since 1993” appears to have gotten no news coverage.

The ABC News/Washington Post poll shows an even more stable pattern, with household gun ownership between 44 and 46 percent in 1999. In 2013, the ownership rate was 43 percent.

There are other measures that suggest that we should be very careful of relying too heavily on polling to gauge the level of gun ownership.

For example, the nationally number of concealed handgun permits has soared over the last decade: rising from about 2.7 million in 1999 to 4.6 million in 2007 to 11.1 million in 2014. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) shows that the number of gun purchases has grown dramatically over time – doubling from 2006 to 2014.

In Illinois, to own a gun people are required to obtain a Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card. The number of people with those cards as soared from a little over 1 million in 2010 to 1.8 million this month.

One obvious caution is that not everyone feels comfortable noting that they own guns. A recent Zogby Analytics survey asked, "If a national pollster asked you if you owned a firearm, would you determine to tell him or her the truth or would you feel it was none of their business?” Thirty-five percent of current gun owners said it was none of pollsters’ business.

People who claim that they are not gun owners are slightly more likely to answer this way.

Gun Ownership Up 50% In 20 Years

https://www.aei.org/publication/chart-of-the-day-more-guns-less-gun-violence-between-1993-and-2013/

[HokieMom]

Agreed.

[Daniel Ramsey]

Polls show alligators walk upright like us.

[cableguymn]

With all the gun grabbers running about i don’t. However i suspect many lied to them.

[Big Red Badger]

Plethora,,
LOVE that Word.

[NonValueAdded]

And sales are at a historic high?

[Trump Girl Kit Cat]

This is the biggest bunch of BS EVER 420 million firearms in a country of 300 million people, folks when people state polls on Trump REMEMBER this BS ARTICLE!!!!

[Haiku Guy]

Maybe this survey included a random sampling of active Democrat voters.

That would explain the under-reporting, because I don’t know that many people who are buried with their guns.

[showme_the_Glory]

I agree. When guns are outlawed, only boats will have guns.

[billyboy15]

You are 100% correct.