Sunday, June 03, 2007

50% Want Stronger Gun Laws

Many adults in the United States believe their country requires tougher firearm legislation, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN.
CNN? Well then, it must be true.

And I'm sure the respondents are all well versed in the state of existing gun laws.

By definition, 50% of a given population will always be in the bottom half...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The best way I can describe what is wrong with this poll is to recall that street interview that some news network did, asking people what was the nationality of the 9/11 jihadis. (Sorry, but which network escapes me at the moment.) Whether by happenstance or by purposeful editing, the chosen respondants believed the attackers were Iraqi.

Gun owners are a minority in this country, those who purchased their own arms a subset, and those who purchase the more restricted arms are a smaller subset still. A hunter who uses his father's rifle will likely never notice anything but the increase in hunting restrictions, only visiting a local sporting goods store for cleaning supplies and ammunition once a year.

It's of very little use to make a general argument about disarmament policies. The pollster may not even know or care about the issue, and anyway, it's expected that the callee chose an answer from the choices given to him. We can therefore come to the conclusion that it is the responsibility of the architect of the study to make sure that it is constructed and executed correctly.

At the very least, the pollee should have been asked whether or not he was aware that there was a total ban on possession of firearms on the VT campus, by those who were not a member of law enforcement. Even so, 49% wanted restrictions to remain the same, a minority wanting less restrictions, and 1% were just too stupid to answer a simple question.

Kent McManigal said...

Yep. "Half of Americans have a below average IQ!!" LOL

me said...

if we're left to believe that the results of the last election ('04) are indicative of the population then 50% want communism.

I'd like stronger gun laws actually. I'd like the constitution to be obeyed, that whole shall not infringe thing that protects guns.

Ken said...

The electoral majority has not been, and never shall be, assembled that can tell me what rights to life, liberty, and property I have. Only One can do that.

So somebody tell me why the &*$# I should care what percentage of CNN poll respondents wants what.

Anonymous said...

Oldsmoblogger: You are the owner and sole arbiter of your individual liberties.

The next time some politician starts telling the electorate what he'd like to do with your liberties, draft up a contract containing which things he possesses that you would like. Then send it to him. "Sign on the dotted line; I get these things of yours in exchange for some of my liberties." And go big, because your liberty is priceless.


hairy hobbit: You're damn right!

How come when ever I go the range, my target stand comes apart and falls over? It's because some sloppy idiot who had it before me shot up the frame instead of his target!

How come when I got to the indoor range, there are holes in the partition that my brass keeps falling into? It's because some sloppy idiot can't keep his finger off the trigger until his piece is pointed down-range!

How come when I go to the range, rapid-fire isn't allowed? It's because some sloppy idiot decided to go Hollywood, and shoot out the target hanger and the lights, instead of building pace and controlling the muzzle.

These are all examples of weak gun control. I want stronger gun control laws. Learn how to control your gun!!

STRONGER GUN CONTROL NOW