Support for gun control falls - AP Poll

[minnhawk]

"Perhaps helping explain Democrats’ problems, an AP-GfK poll this month showed that 49 percent of Americans support stricter gun laws. That was down from 58 percent who said so in January — a month after the December killings of 20 children and six aides at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school propelled gun violence into a national issue."

"Just over half the public — 52 percent — expressed disapproval in the new survey of how President Barack Obama has handled gun laws. Weeks after the Newtown slayings, Obama made a call for near universal background checks the heart of his gun control plan."


This is "ammunition" that can be used against the "90% of Americans want....." statistic. Now we have some "valid"* numbers to throw around ourselves.

http://ap-gfkpoll.com/featured/our-late ... indings-22


* are any polls valid?

[goalie]

But, but....Obama said 90% supported more gun-control.....

[xd ED]

I believe the figure I read was 4%- the percent of Americans who believe gun control is a high priority.

[yonse]

I think he's quoting a poll performed by Quinnipiac University (which is located in Connecticut) of only 1,772 people (I'm uncertain if the poll was only of people in Connecticut or if they polled outside of the state) who were asked “Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?” which was taken after the Sandy Hook massacre. If you showed the full text of what the senate voted on to a much larger amount of people (ie. 177,000) across the country than I think that the results would be much different.

[photogpat]

I think he's quoting a poll performed by Quinnipiac University (which is located in Connecticut) of only 1,772 people (I'm uncertain if the poll was only of people in Connecticut or if they polled outside of the state) who were asked “Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?” which was taken after the Sandy Hook massacre. If you showed the full text of what the senate voted on to a much larger amount of people (ie. 177,000) across the country than I think that the results would be much different.

Someone else already pointed it out - but Americans care more about many other things before gun control (4%).

Whats funny about the 90% supporting background check poll (or 84%, or 81% or 88% or 92% - whichever number he uses) -- its followed up by a question of whether or not the respondent supports a national firearm registry...most polls show support for a registry at ~ 50%...far far less than "Universal" BG checks. The DOJ has stated that "Universal" background checks such as those proposed in Manchin-Toomey would be ineffective unless accompanied by a far-reaching national registration - otherwise, who's to say when a firearm was transferred. The only way to get a far-reaching and comprehensive registration would be to go door-to-door investigating each and every house in the US. I'm sure that would turn out well for all involved.

Can't have truly "Universal" BG checks without a registry...Americans won't tolerate door-to-door searches looking for unregistered firearms.

Game, Set, Match.