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
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1,281 comments Add your comment
Adam
January 15th, 2013
4:15 pm
What is an assault weapon?
Short term memory loss is often the sign of early onset Alzheimer’s. Please see your doctor.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:16 pm
“I’m wondering why they haven’t banned hurricanes….”
They tried after Katrina. (To the left, that was sarcasm)
Christian Conservative
January 15th, 2013
4:16 pm
TaxPayer:
You can’t use that move in checkers, CC.
You certainly can in the game of logic….
Joe Hussein Mama
January 15th, 2013
4:16 pm
Spellcheck — “The fact that libs think a trillion dollar coin was a good idea proves how dumb they are when it comes to anything related to money.”
Several libs, including myself, pointed out when it first came up that it would be a foolishly inflationary thing to do, not to mention that it would also upset the hell out of bond traders and brokers.
Less stereotyping would suit you nicely.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:17 pm
“Less stereotyping would suit you nicely.”
I didnt’ say “Joe Hussein Mama” in my comment. Not everything is about you.
Adam
January 15th, 2013
4:17 pm
The fact that libs think a trillion dollar coin was a good idea proves how dumb they are when it comes to anything related to money.
Where do you get the idea that libs actually thought this was a GOOD idea?
What they THOUGHT was it would be a nice FU to the House GOP.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 15th, 2013
4:17 pm
C. Conservative — “So you own an assault weapon?”
Nope. Didn’t say that.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:17 pm
“Short term memory loss is often the sign of early onset Alzheimer’s. Please see your doctor.”
Deflection alert.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:17 pm
“Where do you get the idea that libs actually thought this was a GOOD idea?”
Paul Krugman. NY Times.
Paulo977
January 15th, 2013
4:17 pm
Fred ….”I got that TOO, but I also got an official one as well (with the ticket). I’m going to frame it with the one from 2008.
_____________________________________________
Are you going? If you are , do enjoy…
Adam
January 15th, 2013
4:18 pm
Deflection alert.
LOL. Only someone who forgot I answered the question earlier would think so.
Seriously, see your doctor. You forgot I answered the question and it was only a couple of hours ago at most.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:19 pm
What’s an assault weapon?
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:19 pm
“Seriously, see your doctor. You forgot I answered the question and it was only a couple of hours ago at most.
Deflection alert.
Adam
January 15th, 2013
4:20 pm
For the record, here’s what at least one “lib” thought of the trillion dollar coin idea: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-january-14-2013/paul-krugman—the-trillion-dollar-coin
Adam
January 15th, 2013
4:20 pm
Your childish games are not impressive, spellcheck. But if it makes you happy, keep on going!
Doggone/GA
January 15th, 2013
4:21 pm
“As close as you would have to be, but still be well out of arm’s reach, to effectively hit a target with a handgun”
Not specific enough. WHICH “handgun”? They vary a LOT in their effective range. As for other weapons lethal from a distance: there are bows, cross-bows, slings, spears, blowguns, thrown knives. All of which are hand weapons.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 15th, 2013
4:21 pm
Spellcheck — “I didnt’ say “Joe Hussein Mama” in my comment.”
No, you said this, which is broadly inclusive of me:
“The fact that libs think . . .”
“Not everything is about you.”
And that’s precisely why I pointed out that I wasn’t the *only* lib who was discussing the matter, in addition to being why I recommended that you engage in less *stereotyping.*
Already ahead of you, son.
Adam
January 15th, 2013
4:22 pm
What’s an assault weapon?
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2013/01/15/most-gun-owners-far-more-reasonable-that-the-nra/?cp=4#comment-1202420
Jm
January 15th, 2013
4:22 pm
Adam
glad you could laugh at that one
Stewart is funny. and dead on
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:22 pm
“No, you said this, which is broadly inclusive of me”
Only in your insecure little mind.
JamVet
January 15th, 2013
4:22 pm
I’ll let Jay deal with you.
Just whine and plead some more first, OK? And if you need some real help in perfecting the crybaby troll role, just check with Dave R/tibby next door.
Adam
January 15th, 2013
4:23 pm
Doggone: They vary a LOT in their effective range. As for other weapons lethal from a distance: there are bows, cross-bows, slings, spears, blowguns, thrown knives. All of which are hand weapons.
How many are legal and how many are as efficient as a gun?
Paul
January 15th, 2013
4:23 pm
Spellcheck
““So you own an assault weapon?”
What is an assault weapon?”
Still trying to get other people to help you across the street?
Boy, talk about dependency. You a Democrat lib?
Here’s a hint. Find out if we’ve ever had an assault weapons ban in this country. Look up the law. See how it was defined.
Unless you want to keep asking others to hand stuff to you.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:23 pm
Adam, nothing makes me happier on this blog than making you chase your tail.
TaxPayer
January 15th, 2013
4:23 pm
You certainly can in the game of logic….
That would actually be another reason why you cannot use it.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:24 pm
” Find out if we’ve ever had an assault weapons ban in this country. Look up the law. See how it was defined.”
Automatic weapons are banned, Paul. So what’s an assault weapon?
Joe Hussein Mama
January 15th, 2013
4:24 pm
Spellcheck — “Only in your insecure little mind.”
Your concession and surrender are hereby accepted.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:25 pm
JamVet reminds me of the guy from SE7EN. You know, the serial killer guy who stalks other people?
Doggone/GA
January 15th, 2013
4:25 pm
USP is beginning to remind me strongly of WOW. Same school of “thought”, for sure
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:25 pm
“Your concession and surrender are hereby accepted.”
That line would make sense if we were on Planet Romulus.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 15th, 2013
4:26 pm
You know, the serial killer guy who stalks other people?
Gerbil says, “What?”
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:27 pm
Doggone/GA
You remind me of a yappy little dog that my neighbor owns. Always yapping and getting kicked around by neighbor kids.
JamVet
January 15th, 2013
4:28 pm
Meat, it really is a shame for you that there is no money to be made by playing stupid to perfection.
Because gawdknows, you’ve got it down to a science!
TaxPayer
January 15th, 2013
4:28 pm
One might assume that after so many pages of comments, at least one Republican would have mentioned just how deadly chainsaws are compared to guns.
Paul
January 15th, 2013
4:30 pm
Spellcheck
“Automatic weapons are banned, Paul. So what’s an assault weapon?”
Still unable to do stuff on your own, I see.
While you’re attempting to find Google again, you may want to add in ‘define automatic weapons’ to your search and see how they differ from assault weapons.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:30 pm
” it really is a shame for you that there is no money to be made by playing stupid to perfection.”
You’d be a millionaire.
Doggone/GA
January 15th, 2013
4:30 pm
“How many are legal and how many are as efficient as a gun?”
Pretty much all of them. From Derringers to the “wrist breaker” And “effiiciency” depends on how you use it. A Derringer would be highly INefficient against a deer. The 500 S&W Magnum would be effective in the hands of a good shot. So, I ask again: WHICH handgun?
TaxPayer
January 15th, 2013
4:30 pm
USP is beginning to remind me strongly of WOW. Same school of “thought”, for sure
He’s certainly one of the easily forgotten ones.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:30 pm
“Still unable to do stuff on your own, I see.”
Deflection alert.
Christian Conservative
January 15th, 2013
4:31 pm
Use Spellcheck please
JamVet reminds me of the guy from SE7EN. You know, the serial killer guy who stalks other people?
I don’t agree with that. That guy was pretty smart……
JamVet
January 15th, 2013
4:31 pm
Meat gets his fee fees hurt and cries out to Big Daddy.
And ten minutes later he is…………… you guessed it, doing the very thing he just whined about.
Hysterical.
My forecast for meat?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IrdMyQSKr8
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:32 pm
“He’s certainly one of the easily forgotten ones.”
He’s so easily forgotten that two posters are devoting multiple comments to talking about said person.
Adam
January 15th, 2013
4:32 pm
So what’s an assault weapon?
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2013/01/15/most-gun-owners-far-more-reasonable-that-the-nra/?cp=4#comment-1202420
Nothing makes me happier than continually making you look stupid, spellcheck
Doggone/GA
January 15th, 2013
4:32 pm
“You remind me of a yappy little dog that my neighbor owns”
I love you too
Christian Conservative
January 15th, 2013
4:33 pm
I still say Jay has a column coming up about Colin Powell ridiculous comments on the Sunday shows….
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:33 pm
“And ten minutes later he is…………… you guessed it, doing the very thing he just whined about.”
And where did I call someone a “white supremacist?” JamVet has a harder problem with reading comprehension than Adam.
BTW, Jay can decide on what to do about you, Jam. I’m sure he’ll be amused by your comments about the KKK.
Morality?
January 15th, 2013
4:34 pm
Obama and the Dems consider the gun industry and their supporters to be the enemy.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:34 pm
“Nothing makes me happier than continually making you look stupid, spellcheck”
You keep posting an AJC article yet you can’t answer the question with your own words. Stupid is as stupid does, ay Adam?
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:34 pm
Why is JamVet obsessed with me?
TaxPayer
January 15th, 2013
4:35 pm
WHICH handgun?
Is this a test! Are we being timed! A.. a … a .22 Beretta.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 15th, 2013
4:35 pm
Tick…tick…tick….
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:35 pm
“Obama and the Dems consider the gun industry and their supporters to be the enemy.”
Of course they do. Just read some of the comments from folks like JamVet.
MrLiberty
January 15th, 2013
4:36 pm
By reasonable you mean willing to give up their rights to a tyrannical government that ultimately wants them disarmed. Dont’ worry, the NRA is willing to bend over for the tyrants in government too. Thankfully the Second Amendment foundation, the Gun Owners of America, and the rest of us freedom loving (life-respecting) types aren’t so willing.
Adam
January 15th, 2013
4:36 pm
Doggone: WHICH handgun?
You’re missing the point. But ok, for the sake of argument let’s say something modern. Like the following:
Ruger LC9
Walther PPS
Kel-Tec PLR-16
Glock 39
If I’m right, all those should be no earlier than 2005 mfg date and have varying cartridges (except for two, bonus points for picking them out).
So take your pick.
Paul
January 15th, 2013
4:37 pm
“He’s so easily forgotten that two posters are devoting multiple comments to talking about said person.”
Almost Harry Callahan with the need for attention. Not quite that bad, but still pretty sad.
Comes to a blog about ideas and spends his time posting anything just so others will interact with him.
I call it my good deed for the day.
Morality?
January 15th, 2013
4:38 pm
“Guns attract criminals”…… I would say quite the opposite. Point a loaded gun in a criminals face and they will find it quite unattractive.
JamVet
January 15th, 2013
4:38 pm
cc, you calling anybody smart is kinda funny, doncha think?
Given the amazing amount of idiotic, roundly laughed at claims you’ve made here.
Meat, you know the drill. You perfected it. You play your whack-a-troll role for a little while, then after a little while more you scurry off with your blogging legs between your trail and then the best part….
Use Spellcheck please is never heard from again and a new slice of spamming mystery meat appears.
Spam, eggs, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam and spam!
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:39 pm
“Almost Harry Callahan with the need for attention. Not quite that bad, but still pretty sad.”
So I guess you need attention as well since you constantly respond to my comments and others as well. Pretty sad.
“Comes to a blog about ideas and spends his time posting anything just so others will interact with him.
Which is EXACTLY what you do, Paul and you’ve been here all day long.
TaxPayer
January 15th, 2013
4:39 pm
He’s so easily forgotten that two posters are devoting multiple comments to talking about said person.
Just two with multiple posts. That’s pretty forgettable. If you wish to improve your chances at becoming memorable, you could try using the same handle that you have used here in the past. It might help assuming you had any memorable posts from the past.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:40 pm
“Given the amazing amount of idiotic, roundly laughed at claims you’ve made here.”
JamVet, take your meds and go to bed. Your comments are just sad.
Doggone/GA
January 15th, 2013
4:41 pm
Glock 39: effective range 55 yards
English long bow: effective range 180 to 250 yards
Does that answer your original qustion?
indigo
January 15th, 2013
4:41 pm
morality – 3:37
I believe you’re being somewhat disingenuous regarding Obama and pot laws.
He’s saying that since the Govt. says one thing and the states say another, it’s up to the Justice Dept. to advise on further action.
That seems reasonable.
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/14/15908830-obama-on-pot-laws-weve-got-bigger-fish-to-fry?lite
Aquagirl
January 15th, 2013
4:43 pm
You keep posting an AJC article yet you can’t answer the question with your own words.
That’s an AJC article? When was your last eye exam?
Our mystery meat faceplants. Gosh, didn’t see that one coming.
Peadawg
January 15th, 2013
4:44 pm
“You keep posting an AJC article yet you can’t answer the question with your own words”
Did you even click on the link, Spell Check? It’s a link to an earlier comment by Adam where he says what an assault rifle is.
Stupid is is stupid does indeed.
indigo
January 15th, 2013
4:44 pm
Doggone/GA – 4:41
Glock 39 range is 55 yards?
Think again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq8shrwQgu8
Morality?
January 15th, 2013
4:45 pm
Clint Eastwood in “Unforgiven”. What a great classic western. Former gunslinger (Eastwood) is lured back in to the trade to take out the bad guys (Gene Hackman) menacing a town and he takes care o business – becoming a hero to the towns folks he saves.
Paul
January 15th, 2013
4:46 pm
Spellcheck
If you haven’t figured it out, there’s a BIG difference between posting to get others’ attention and posting to laugh at someone.
But seriously, read the last page or so of comments. You don’t see a pattern there? You and… the rest of the universe?
Tan Vampire
January 15th, 2013
4:46 pm
The 2nd Amendment, Batman Shooting & High Fructose Corn Syrup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvIK4cmzeRY
curious
January 15th, 2013
4:46 pm
The heck with banning guns.
Ban td and Jm.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:47 pm
“That’s an AJC article? When was your last eye exam?”
Adam posted:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2013/01/15/most-gun-owners-far-more-reasonable-that-the-nra/?cp=4#comment-1202420
What’s that sound? That’s the sound of Aquagirl doing a face plant on a big slab of concrete.
Get your eyes checked, Aquagirl.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:48 pm
“Did you even click on the link, Spell Check? It’s a link to an earlier comment by Adam where he says what an assault rifle is.”
I asked Adam what an assault weapon is and all he did was post a link to Jay’s blog.
Stupid is as stupid does, Peadawg.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 15th, 2013
4:48 pm
When was your last eye exam?
Probably the last time he was in Grand Forks.
Or was it LA?
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:48 pm
Paul, stalk someone else.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:49 pm
“Ban td and Jm.”
Yes, because we can’t have differing opinions.
Peadawg
January 15th, 2013
4:50 pm
*right to that comment
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:50 pm
Can anyone explain, in their own words, what an assault weapon is?
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:51 pm
“Idiot.”
Tick tick tick. As Kamchak puts it.
Aquagirl
January 15th, 2013
4:51 pm
Get your eyes checked, Aquagirl.
Substituting your own reality doesn’t mean I need an eye exam. It means you need some serious help with whatever’s afflicting your brain.
moonbat betty
January 15th, 2013
4:51 pm
Is the fight at O.K. Corral still going?
Yep…
Tuesday’s gone with the wind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-f2y1QC_yg
Peadawg
January 15th, 2013
4:51 pm
“Can anyone explain, in their own words, what an assault weapon is?”
Adam did @ 1:45 this afternoon.
Doggone/GA
January 15th, 2013
4:51 pm
“Glock 39 range is 55 yards?”
I wasn’t speaking from experience…just quoting a web site I found. And I said “effective” range. That is not neccessarily the maximum range.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:52 pm
“Adam did @ 1:45 this afternoon.”
No, no he did not.
Peadawg
January 15th, 2013
4:53 pm
“No, no he did not.”
Bless your heart.
Aquagirl
January 15th, 2013
4:54 pm
Tick tick tick. As Kamchak puts it.
To be fair, that’s a pretty accurate description of someone befuddled by an internet link.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:54 pm
Peadawg also needs an eye exam because the guy doesn’t know the difference in a wiki column and an opinion by Adam.
What was it that you called me, Peadawg?
Idiot?
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:54 pm
“Bless your heart.”
Bless yers too, Peadawg!
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
4:55 pm
“Click on the link. It’s a link to Adam’s earlier comment @ 1:45. It goes right to that article.”
And like I said earlier, I asked ADAM what HIS opinion of what an assault rifle is. I did NOT ask for a wiki article.
Thanks for playing.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 15th, 2013
4:58 pm
Tick tick tick. As Kamchak puts it.
Kamchak?
Who Dat?
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 15th, 2013
5:00 pm
Point a loaded gun in a criminals face and they will find it quite unattractive.
Until they take it away from you and shoot you with it
Or pull out their own then its wild west time.
Yehaaaaaa
Morality?
January 15th, 2013
5:00 pm
Instead of encouraging illegal drug activity by not enforcing Fed law shouldn’t our “leaders” in D.C. be upholding the law of the land as Obama swore under oath with his hand on the Bible to do? I can not trust a man that puts his hand on the Bible and lies under oath to defend and uphold the law of the land.. and then refuses to do so.
Use Spellcheck please
January 15th, 2013
5:01 pm
” can not trust a man that puts his hand on the Bible and lies under oath to defend and uphold the law of the land.. and then refuses to do so.”
That’s what lawyers do everyday. He is a lawyer.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 15th, 2013
5:04 pm
Its not a matter of if we will have serious gun control
Its when
Its just a matter of how many more people and children will die before we get there.
Sadly that’s the truth.
The NRA nuts and the Conservative ” The government is coming after me” nutjobs will have a lot of blood on their hands between now and then.
Morality?
January 15th, 2013
5:04 pm
Cheezy – go ahead and reach – just remember you will be making a career decision.
JamVet
January 15th, 2013
5:05 pm
Spellchecked ain’t no Harry Callahan.
Harry was a raging nutjob and full blown pyschopath. Spellchecked is just a minor league troll with the same neediness issues…
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 15th, 2013
5:05 pm
I can not trust a man that puts his hand on the Bible and lies under oath to defend and uphold the law of the land.. and then refuses to do so.
Be specific. What laws has he not upheld ?
Morality?
January 15th, 2013
5:06 pm
Not so – most lawyers – Clinton & Obama aside – don’t lie under oath. Lying under oath is an impeachable offense.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 15th, 2013
5:07 pm
Cheezy – go ahead and reach – just remember you will be making a career decision.
As will you
So tell me
You feeling lucky punk ?
Welcome to the Occupation
January 15th, 2013
5:09 pm
Stevie Ray:
I’m simply saying that the issue of gun control cannot be separated out from the reality of a social order that is in crisis. Liberals are wrong if they think passing a few gun laws or banning a range of assault weapons will “solve” this issue. It will not.
Almost nothing of any real purpose can be done in this devastated society until the primary issue of the destroyed social contract and the broken economic system is addressed.
Morality?
January 15th, 2013
5:10 pm
Marihuana laws on the Fed books. Just one example.
JamVet
January 15th, 2013
5:10 pm
I can not trust a man that puts his hand on the Bible and lies under oath to defend and uphold the law of the land.. and then refuses to do so.
Says the man who voted for George W. Bush twice…