Most gun owners far more reasonable than the NRA

Judging from the results of a new ABC News/Washington Post poll, a wide spectrum of Americans of both parties has reached consensus on the need for specific, common-sense actions to reduce the death toll taken by guns without intruding on Second Amendment rights granted under the Constitution.

The question is, how much power does an angry, paranoid and politically aggressive minority still wield over gun policy in this country? I suspect that we’re going to find that it’s an awful lot. The NRA’s grip on Washington is so strong that we can’t even get a director confirmed to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the agency tasked with enforcing federal gun laws. The ATF has gone leaderless since 2006, because under President Bush and now President Obama, Senate Republicans have refused to even allow a vote on the nomination.

You want another example? The ATF is forbidden by federal law to create a computer database allowing its agents to trace ownership of guns used in a crime. The search has to be done manually, in a time-eating process of phone call after phone call, and sifting through boxes of paper records. That’s because in its infinite paranoia, the NRA insists that a computerized system would violate the Second Amendment by making it easier for the government to go door to door, confiscating the 180 million weapons estimated to be in private hands.

Seriously, they think that’s going to happen.

According to the ABC/WaPo poll, most Americans don’t put much credence in that fantasy. It found that 71 percent of Americans support creation of a national gun database. That includes 61 percent of Republicans.

In addition, 65 percent of Americans — including 59 percent of Republicans — say they support a ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Seventy-six percent would require a background check before a person is allowed to purchase ammunition, a figure that includes 69 percent of Republicans.

That strong bipartisan consensus breaks down only on the issue of a ban on assault weapons. Overall, 58 percent of Americans and 54 percent of independents would support such a ban, but only 45 percent of Republicans would do so.

But the most telling data in the poll involves the 44 percent of those surveyed who live in a home where guns are kept. Of that subset, 86 percent would support closing the “gun-show” loophole on background checks. Seventy-six percent of gun owners endorse a background check for ammo sales; 62 percent would back a national firearms database, and 55 percent support a ban on large-capacity magazines.

Such numbers confirm that gun owners, as a rule, are far more reasonable about common-sense approaches to gun safety than is the extremist organization that purports to represent their interests. But in the end, I’m not confident that will matter much.

– Jay Bookman

1,281 comments Add your comment

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:09 pm

“Oh Lordy, Liberals espousing the same old crap that John Kerry is proud of his Vietnam service.
Well lets just look at his own words.”

Doh! That’s clearly inconvenient….

Thulsa Doom

January 15th, 2013
11:12 pm

Uh huh,

And it sucks what happened to the child. But terrible things like that happen everyday in the world. Evil exists. Deal with it. The problem with folks like you is that you lack control and you start thinking about things emotionally. Calm down and think about things rationally and objectively instead of going off on some half cocked some emotional rant.

Bobo

January 15th, 2013
11:13 pm

Also, another footnote. Why should we trust these statistics? The media pretty much polls biased outlier groups to get the data that they want and they publish it as fact. Sorry, but there is nothing that would suggest those numbers are trustworthy when 36 states are still conservative and traditional and we’re being dragged through the mud by the West coast and New England.

Jm

January 15th, 2013
11:13 pm

I can’t believe you can buy a cannon

No automatic weapons

But a cannon?

Go shopping!

Thulsa Doom

January 15th, 2013
11:14 pm

Towncrier,

What can they say really? I mean its the man’s own words. Not Rush Limbaugh. Not Hannity. Not Boortz.

I’ve posted his own self shameful comments about his military service numerous times and the livlibs(lowinformationvoterlibs) ignore it as if the man’s own words mean nothing. Jeez.

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:15 pm

“If you do not like the argument then the framers gave is a way to amend the Constitution and change the original intent. Why are you not advocating this position?”

Because it is a whole lot easier to twist the words of the Constitution to make it say what one wants it to say – just like people used the Bible to justify forced (as opposed to voluntary) slavery. It is THE principal liberal strategy to effect change: don’t change the Constitution, change its perceived meaning (by whatever specious arguments one can imagine).

moonbat betty

January 15th, 2013
11:17 pm

The liberals know they have a short window to pass knee jerk, reactionary laws as seen by the latest media blitz.

Keep in on the state level.

If NY wants to be morons, let ‘em. :)

Thulsa Doom

January 15th, 2013
11:18 pm

Jm,

I’ve seen an article in the past about a feller that bought and restored an old WW2 Sherman tank and had it in working condition. Not that they can fire anymore but they can run. Pretty cool. After seeing that I always thought it would be cool to have my own tank one day. Even an old Sherman can probably just run right over or smack through a bunch of things.

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:18 pm

“I’ve posted his own self shameful comments about his military service numerous times and the livlibs(lowinformationvoterlibs) ignore it as if the man’s own words mean nothing. Jeez.”

An acknowledgement of the truth or a proven claim would be perhaps too much to hope for.

Jm

January 15th, 2013
11:18 pm

Can I buy a tank?

Probably

Lee

January 15th, 2013
11:19 pm

“JamVet

January 15th, 2013
10:52 pm
Hard to take anyone seriously who writes idiotic, made up out of thin air garbage like a “good first step” toward total gun confiscation”.

Seriously, how low an IQ does one have to have to actually write such stupidity, Lee?”

Gee, I don’t know Jamvet. Maybe because Feinstein has been recorded as saying if she had the votes, she would have had Americans to “turn them all in”.

But don’t let facts get in your way…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQJHzmB1JuE

Jm

January 15th, 2013
11:20 pm

Doom. :)

You read my mind

Rose is interviewing Armstrong friends

He sounds like an awful person

Ignore the Oprah contrition

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:23 pm

“4) What happened to ‘innocent until proven guilty’?”

That mistaken idea is still widespread today. One is PRESUMED innocent by a COURT OF LAW until proven guilty. One is guilty the instant he or she commits a crime. And the public can reach any conclusion it wishes any time after the commission of said crime.

Thulsa Doom

January 15th, 2013
11:24 pm

“Are “YOU” saying that NOAH’S DEATH WAS JUSTIFIED?”

Uh huh,

Now you’re just delving into the realm of the lunatic fringe. That’s a just plain idiotic thing to try and put those words in my mouth. I never said or implied or suggested the child’s death was justified. How in the hell did you come to such a twisted and idiotic conclusion? Gawd that is stupid.

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:27 pm

I’m not a NRA fan or member, but I sure think they hit the nail on the head here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/15/nra-obama-ad/

Ouch! That’s going to leave a mark.

Not Blind

January 15th, 2013
11:27 pm

Thulsa Doom

January 15th, 2013
11:28 pm

Jm,

I was always on Armstrong’s side. But what’s coming out is that he was a self serving, narcissistic bully. He intimidated, threatened, and bullied teammates into going going along with it. Maybe they are just piling on. I dunno. But what’s coming out is that he’s just a plain ole mean person. I hate to think that about the man. But I don’t have much sympathy for someone that knowingly lied and stuck to his guns so long and so vociferously. I find that troublesome.

Jm

January 15th, 2013
11:29 pm

Lance Armstrong

Douchebag

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:29 pm

Jm

January 15th, 2013
11:30 pm

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:35 pm

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:37 pm

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:38 pm

moonbat betty

January 15th, 2013
11:39 pm

Not condoning his actions, but Armstrong was playing the game.

There’s A LOT of european hate.

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:43 pm

Thulsa Doom

January 15th, 2013
11:45 pm

“An acknowledgement of the truth or a proven claim would be perhaps too much to hope for.”

Facts- the sworn enemy of liberal gobbledeegook.

Jm

January 15th, 2013
11:45 pm

Tc

Re Fitch

Yep I posted that earlier

It shut the libs up

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:46 pm

“http://hotair.com/archives/2013/01/15/reid-obama-has-accomplished-even-more-than-fdr-you-know/

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

oldguy

January 15th, 2013
11:47 pm

” making it easier for the government to go door to door, confiscating the 180 million weapons estimated to be in private hands.

Seriously, they think that’s going to happen.”

Read your own comment section Jay. You think Libs wouldn’t confiscate firearms if they could figure some way to do it?

Fact: The NRA represents its members, period.

Fact: There are 100,000 new NRA members since the Obama anti-gun hysteria started.

Fact: Currently the government has no idea who owns what firearms. Anyone who thinks those of us who currently own firearms are going to march in and register them so they can be taxed and eventually confiscated are smoking too much of that San Francisco “medical”.
And yes, many of us who shoot frequently, target shoot and/or hunt reload our own ammunition. This weekend I plan to buy enough primers bullseye, and IMR 4895 powder I will need to last for quite a few years.

Do you think my ammunition will “expire” after a few years? I currently have a 1905 Argentine Mauser in 7MM. The ammunition I use in it is somewhat rare so what I am using now was manufactured in Spain in 1936 or 1937 for the Spanish Civil War ! It still fires flawlessly.

As for the fable of modern smokeless powder exploding due to fire and/or lightning that does not happen. You can stick a lit match into a pile of powder and all it will do is melt.

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:54 pm

Don’t you DARE listen to this “Uncle Tom”, liberals (even though the liberal-turned-conservative Mamet considers him to be one of America’s best minds):

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/337678/liberalism-versus-blacks-thomas-sowell

Towncrier

January 15th, 2013
11:56 pm

Bobo

January 16th, 2013
12:09 am

Oldguy….and another thing…..even IF the government managed to round up every single firearm without getting thousands of their agents mowed down in a hail of gunfire when they intruded onto personal property and violated individual rights…….do they REALLY think no one knows how to manufacture guns or make more ammunition? If the Viet Cong can re-build Frankenstein AK’s out of random spare parts while sitting in a hole in the middle of the jungle, why would anyone here run into major problems?

electrician

January 16th, 2013
12:22 am

The question is, how much power does an angry, paranoid and politically aggressive minority still wield over gun policy in this country?.Dont mistake a position of zero compromise as being paranoid,and dont believe that the NRA is the only group of angry, political activists that is courting congress for thier own cause,at this point a group of over 4 million members and growing everyday.I am an NRA member, but I am not concerned that the goverment is coming to take my guns, I do belive that the NRA policy of not allowing any compromise of the second amendment is the only reason it is still valid today.
The NRA does not make laws, it does work within the legal boundaries of all lobby groups that work in washington,so blame congress, they are the ones that vote and the NRA counts many democrats among its base of support in washington.All the insults hurled at NRA members,along with the death threats does not change the fact that we are strong because we have support in many areas of the goverment.using the same avenues that industry and any other special interest group has available to them.
Believing that passing a law will some how have any effect on gun violence is a baseless fantasy,the drug trade flourishes in this country,destroying live and whole communities,and despite the commitment of thousnds of heavily armed law enforcement personnel whose main focus is to stop it, the drug trade continues to grow,all the laws and all the SWAT teams have little to no effect.
Yes ,America is a violent place,here with our own populace and abroad, where we kill with impunity for whatever cause we deem just.These are the facts,Yes they need to be changed ,but a thousand more laws wont do it And the blind faith that our goverment knows what is best certainly wont either.

oldguy

January 16th, 2013
12:24 am

True Bobo true. And most of those Cong couldn’t even read and write!.

getalife

January 16th, 2013
12:32 am

This is not a con echo chamber.

Run along and get some sleep.

Getting our President is hard work.

getalife

January 16th, 2013
12:36 am

The NRA was started by two Yankees after the civil war.

They were for gun laws then flipped flopped after a coup of leadership.

oldguy

January 16th, 2013
12:42 am

That’s your president Getalife not mine. I swear allegiance to the Flag and the Republic for which it stands and since I am no longer in the military I no longer have a Commander-in-Chief.

getalife

January 16th, 2013
12:50 am

“I no longer have a Commander-in-Chief.”

Four more years.

moonbat betty

January 16th, 2013
12:55 am

Michael

January 16th, 2013
1:08 am

Adam,

I am sorry but your comment about teaching disarming techniques borders on full out insanity. Successful disarms have to be done inside of arms reach and even then are not very likely to be accomplished without someone (usually the disarming person) be severely injured. Outside of 4 feet your are almost certain to wind up dead or dying.

Redcoat

January 16th, 2013
5:29 am

not enough laws yet?………we all will be criminals, but a few, soon!…….even our liberal friends that think they are on the right side……..

stands for decibels

January 16th, 2013
6:00 am

mornin’.

When we were talking about fiscal policy, the favorite faux-naive question from the right was: “Who are the ‘rich’?”

For this gun-reg policy discussion, it seems that’s morphed into “What is an ‘assault weapon’?”

Incredibly clever! well played, lads.

Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!

January 16th, 2013
6:06 am

Good morning all y’all…

The past couple of days on this thread, All I hear is the generic “They can have my gun when they pry it from my cold dead hands”. Big Rambo talk, is all that is. If the Government ever did come to get your guns (they never will), you would give them up meekly because, in the end, sanity would rise up and you would know you only had two choices…give them up or be dead.
Most of you “Rambo’s” have no concept of what it feels like to be in a firefight. You don’t know fear or pain until you have had a bullet invade your body and you see your blood squirting out. Give me a break…most of you would wet your pants and freeze up. Pathetic big talk is all you have.

Show you are a caring human being and help pass meaningful regulations. Assault rifles in the civilian world is like giving shovels to pigs…they don’t need them to survive.
——–

Have a great day hunkered down in your bunker….take a good look at yourself….see how pathetic you look.

DownInAlbany

January 16th, 2013
6:09 am

Speaking to CNN on Jan 14, Democrat Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) tried to justify pending gun grabs by saying, “There is, in fact, a mass killing in [the U.S.] everyday.”

Speier is one of 12 Democrat Reps who met with VP Biden Monday to discuss new gun control measures, and she wholeheartedly believes “there is much that needs to be done, and there’s much that can be done,” via Executive Orders to change gun policies.

And, the cons are the loons?

Georgia

January 16th, 2013
6:37 am

Besides repealing the second amendment, there is another little matter that needs changing: we should replace the eagle with the turkey as our national bird. Now I know what you’re thinking, did I start the morning with just one shot of whiskey in my coffee, or five? Well, in all the chaos of all this change that’s a comin’, I kinda lost track myself. But Benjamin Franklin was adamant that the turkey was a far, far better symbol than the eagle. Franklin reasoned that if the turkey was chosen, then it would be protected, and thus gun ownership would be moot. (People back then only used guns once a year to shoot the xmas day turkey). The man was a genius, indeed, and certainly our greatest founding father and kitchen impossible visionary.

TaxPayer

January 16th, 2013
6:52 am

If Georgia’s klan members were to secede from the state, we would reduce the ranks of not only the racists in Georgia but also the NRA members and the Republicans. It’s a win-win-win.

Jm

January 16th, 2013
6:56 am

Germany is taking some of their gold out of the Federal Reserve system

Seems the Germans no longer trust the Fed

Hard to blame them really

Gale

January 16th, 2013
7:13 am

Non carborundum illegitimati, cousin Corbin. It sounds like the chest beaters have been getting to you. Cheer up. It will be a good morning.

bucket

January 16th, 2013
7:19 am

An interesting point for us to ponder: I was reminded of something I had realized a long time ago while watching Donnie Deutsch (sp?) on MSNBC this morning. Some people in this country have absolutely no problem putting restrictions on the 2nd Amendment, while at the same time saying we are helpless to address the 1st amendment. I’m not so sure that we should be putting more restrictions on any part of the constitution, rather we need to push for cultural changes. We need cultural change that it’s not cool to pack a gun the same way culture changed about cigarettes. The same should apply to the video games, movies, and music. Some of the “coolest” and most famous and most rich guys in Hollywood are the ones behind the violent movies.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

January 16th, 2013
7:29 am

Helpless to address the 1st amendment? :roll: Absolute poppycock and it never has stopped the cons from trying over and over again. But just more deflection

stands for decibels

January 16th, 2013
7:34 am

KUtGF @ 7.29, I too stumbled a bit over that line, but then I got to this…

We need cultural change that it’s not cool to pack a gun the same way culture changed about cigarettes.

And yes. That’s an important part of it.

If nothing else but a modest cultural shift emerges, wherein those who bray about their guns are publicly shamed rather than feted, that will be some kind of progress.

I would love for people who drive around with NRA stickers to get some serious sh-t from their loved ones. “Why do you belong to that a$$hole organization, Dad?” That sort of thing. That’s what’s needed, every bit as much as the sort of data collection capability and, ultimately, sensible hardware restrictions so often talked about.

Granny Godzilla

January 16th, 2013
7:39 am

Guns ARE uncool.

As are gun nuts.

Do they all have “chin mullets”?

That is a huge fashion don’t.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

January 16th, 2013
7:40 am

Stands, no disagreement there. A gun is not a penis extender, although many of our gun nuts are fixated by their “precious”.

And killing someone, even in self defense, is not to be celebrated as some of the more clownish posters have done here. If the fetus-at-all-cost protectors care about life as they profess, they should also be concerned about the failures of our society and those lost lives.

TaxPayer

January 16th, 2013
7:40 am

Kids asking their dads question like, “Do you actually believe anything that idiot LaPierre says?”

That would indeed be a good thing.

I would also like to see the kids ask even tougher questions like, “Do you hate President Obama just because he is black?”

Keep Up the Good Fight!

January 16th, 2013
7:42 am

Grandfather who comforted Sandy Hook Elementary kids says ‘truthers’ are targeting him

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/15/16529522-grandfather-who-comforted-sandy-hook-elementary-kids-says-truthers-are-targeting-him?lite

Birthers and now the horrendous Hookers.

stands for decibels

January 16th, 2013
7:46 am

I would also like to see the kids ask even tougher questions like, “Do you hate President Obama just because he is black?”

Eh. Problem is, that’s too easy a question to brush off. “I don’t hate him ‘cuz he’s black, and I can prove it because Clarence Thomas & Condi Rice & Thomas Sowell and shut up.”

Obama will be a non-issue in four years. The NRA, as Jesus said, we will have with us always.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

January 16th, 2013
7:48 am

Today should be interesting with the President’s anticipated announcement and NY’s passage of some common sense gun control.

stands for decibels

January 16th, 2013
7:50 am

Off topic:

Probably the best explanation for why so many are happy to sign on to Social Security “reform” (i.e., cuts) I’ve read, yet.

Why The Powers That Be Hate Social Security

The Economy consists of adding up all the economically valuable stuff that happens. All the goods and services and labor that are bought and sold. And with most government spending, you can make some kind of case that the spending boosts The Economy. It boosts The Economy because we need infrastructure or educated workers or healthy ones. Even something like Medicare does something for The Economy because it subsidizes medical training and research. The Economy wants you to spend money on things that can be plausibly described as “investments” that drive future prosperity. And mailing a check to your grandma doesn’t fit the bill.

Gale

January 16th, 2013
7:52 am

Hey bucket, leave my video games alone. I like shooting zombies and aliens.

stands for decibels

January 16th, 2013
7:56 am

Anyone else finding this comments thread buggier than an Alabama outhouse in July?

stands for decibels

January 16th, 2013
7:59 am

Birthers could be kind of funny. “Hookers” are literally child molesters, and in a just world, they’d be part of some national registry so that people would know if they were living next door to one.

straitroad

January 16th, 2013
8:01 am

All of this mass hysteria from Obama’s willful subjects is saddening. One thing that is seriously lacking from all of these comments is logic.

Mick

January 16th, 2013
8:01 am

After birthers are a messy lot…

stands for decibels

January 16th, 2013
8:02 am

Obama’s willful subjects

Kindly identify these willful subjects for us.

In the meantime, I’ll be happy to crap all over the Administration for any number of transgressions.

Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (aka "Knuckle-Dragger")

January 16th, 2013
8:02 am

I would imagine the folks that want gun control are also the same folks that voted to reelect the imperial viceroy – one of the dumbest population groups in the history of the planet. Enough said.

Mick

January 16th, 2013
8:05 am

vast

Nah….the bushmeister and his complicit supporters wins that debate hands down…

JamVet

January 16th, 2013
8:07 am

“Enough said.”

From the fool who like straitroad voted for George & Dick twice. HA!

Just keep trotting out those buffoons like you did in the last two elections and nominating spineless little men like Romney and consequently getting crushed at the polls, OK?

Thanks.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

January 16th, 2013
8:08 am

I’m with you Stands. There are many things that the stupidity of the GOP party are distracting us from addressing and from having real discussions about some serious issues.

barking frog

January 16th, 2013
8:12 am

In the 2nd amendment to the US Constitution the word ‘infringed’ means
‘invalidated’ or ‘taken away’ and not ‘unregulated’.

barking frog

January 16th, 2013
8:14 am

Georgia’s budget is saved. the obamaphone will now cost $5.00 per month.

stands for decibels

January 16th, 2013
8:16 am

sub graf SHEETZ.

indigo

January 16th, 2013
8:28 am

Jay – 10:12

Has it ever occured to you, even once, that animals have a hard enough time making it in the wild without you and others hunting them for your “sport”?

interested observer

January 16th, 2013
8:31 am

It’s yet one more example of the right-wing extremists sabotaging the future of the Republican Party by lining up on the opposite side of of where the public — even the Republicans — stands on the issue.

Sooner or later, moderate Republicans will break the grip of the extremists — but it’s going to be awhile.

southpaw

January 16th, 2013
8:50 am

barking frog @8:12
Isn’t the Constitution an “evolving document,” or something like that? “Infringed” doesn’t mean “invalidated” or “taken away” any more. Now the right to bear arms can’t even be “encroached.”

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/infringe?s=t

Redcoat

January 16th, 2013
9:06 am

We are all breaking some law in some way……liberals too!……..It’s just how you define people and issues…….nothing to it! I’m learning a lot on this blog.

Adam

January 16th, 2013
9:32 am

Fred: It lends validity to my impression that your “stand” on this issue is NOT about “taking the guns” but on what you believe to be the right thing to do to help stop as much of the senseless violence as we can

If this is a good position (I happen to agree 100% with this), then what does it matter if some of the people supporting exactly this position do not have “a house of guns” on their resume? Isn’t that just an appeal to authority?

bucket

January 16th, 2013
9:44 am

“And killing someone, even in self defense, is not to be celebrated as some of the more clownish posters have done here. If the fetus-at-all-cost protectors care about life as they profess, they should also be concerned about the failures of our society and those lost lives.”

Wow. So sense when did a fetus try to steal, kill, or rape anyone?

As to the “common sense” elements of the New York law: I wonder of Governor Cuomo’s protectors will be restricted to gun clips that only hold 7 bullets?

bucket

January 16th, 2013
9:50 am

since, not sense and if, not of. Not so smart phone.

Adam

January 16th, 2013
10:30 am

bucket: So since when did a fetus try to steal, kill, or rape anyone?

Well, a fetus IS stealing from a host’s food and water supply, and some fetus’ have attempted to kill their hosts, and some fetus’ get implanted through rape, so….

Adam

January 16th, 2013
10:30 am

bucket: I wonder of Governor Cuomo’s protectors will be restricted to gun clips that only hold 7 bullets?

Why not? A skilled shooter only needs one bullet.

Vladimir

January 17th, 2013
9:23 pm

Gun Control in Australia – Watch and Weep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGaDAThOHhA
When a country takes away guns from its citizens it’s in big trouble as they are finding out in Australia.

Dr. Susan Gratia before House subcommittee on guns. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awjxvMRdF-U