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Most Americans support the right to use deadly force to protect themselves -- even in public places -- and have a favorable view of the National Rifle Association, the main gun-lobby group, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.
However, there was also strong support from respondents for background checks as well as limiting the sale of automatic weapons and keeping guns out of churches, stores and workplaces.
The online survey showed that 68 percent, or two out of three respondents, had a favorable opinion of the NRA, which starts its annual convention in St. Louis, Missouri, on Friday.
Eighty-two percent of Republicans saw the gun lobbying group in a positive light as well as 55 percent of Democrats, findings that run counter to the perception of Democrats as anti-NRA.
Most of the 1,922 people surveyed nationwide from April Monday through Thursday said they supported laws that allow Americans to use deadly force to protect themselves from danger in their own home or in a public place.
"Americans do hold to this idea that people should be allowed to defend themselves and using deadly force is fine, in those circumstances," said pollster Chris Jackson. "In the theoretical ... there's a certain tolerance of vigilantism."
The poll was conducted amid a nationwide debate over gun rights and race after the Florida shooting of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood crime watch volunteer who is white and Hispanic.
The poll results were welcomed by the NRA, which is one of the most powerful lobby groups in the country and regularly clashes with anti-gun groups and often with Democrats as it seeks to protect and expand gun rights across the United States.
"Regardless of how others try to distort our position, the general public knows where we stand," said NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam. "It shows the failure of the continuing efforts of many to try and discredit the National Rifle Association."
Mitt Romney, the likely Republican presidential nominee, spoke to the convention on Friday, vowing to reverse what he calls the restrictive gun policies of President Barack Obama's administration.
Romney sticks to broad attack on Obama in NRA speech
"We need a president who will stand up for the rights of hunters, sportsmen, and those seeking to protect their homes and their families," he said. "President Obama has not. I will."
Eighty-seven percent of respondents -- with high numbers among both Republicans and Democrats -- supported the use of deadly force to protect themselves from danger in their home.
Two-thirds said they backed laws permitting the use of deadly force to protect themselves in public.
Gun restrictions needed, most say
According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, nearly 100,000 people are shot every year in the United States in murders, suicides, accidents or police intervention.
Government statistics show 31,347 people died in the United States in 2009 from gunshots, including 11,493 in homicides.
Ninety-one percent of those who responded to the survey agreed on the need for background checks before a firearm can be sold. Only 6 percent said they thought gun ownership should require no, or very few restrictions.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they supported limiting the sale of automatic weapons, and 62 percent oppose bringing firearms into churches, workplaces or stores.
"A fairly large number of Americans support strong regulation, or at least moderate regulation of gun ownership," said Jackson. "Which is sort of counter to the narrative you often hear that legislators can't touch our guns or you'll have to pay."
Nearly half of those surveyed felt crime rates were rising where they lived - even though FBI statistics show that violent crime has declined for the past 4 1/2 years.
NYTimes: NRA gathers amid growing storm over gun laws
"People's perception of crime always over-represents reality," said Jackson. "I think that indicates the mind frame that the American public is in - there's always a constant low-level worrying about street crime."
As a result, 85 percent of those polled said they did not believe police could stop all crime and 77 percent felt regular people had to "step up" to help prevent crime from happening.
The survey included 650 Republicans, 752 Democrats and 520 independents. The precision of the Reuters/Ipsos online poll is measured using a credibility interval and this poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points for all respondents.
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Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
Leave a Comment:
NRA = Domestic Terrorist Organization
The second amendment was written to protect YOU from GOVERNMENT.....Not to protect YOU from your neighbor.
I'm not in some paranoid delusion about the government trying to take away my rights. Think about it, no kind of gun I can buy whether it be a 9mm to HK-XM8 to a Barrett .50 BMG won't do a damn thing against a tomahawk cruise missile or predator drone missile or Abrams Tank etc...
Yeah, so if Uncle Sam really wanted to do you in... you be done.....so
But the conspiracy theories are good camp-fire stories.
meanest one certainly should also be known as the stupidest one.
meanest,
Hey putz.
1. There were no cruise missiles in 1776.
2. Do you think the government would fire a drone at Chicago or New York or Washington?
3. Do you think your brother, who is driving an Abrams Tank, would fire against you or your city?
Ok GCCal genius,
What would you do? Or do you just post meaningless responses.
Hey Bernie,
1. It's 2012
2. If there was an individual or individuals who were committing acts of treason... yes. Most likely the cops would take out the silly trouble maker though.
3. If those were the orders given or you were stupid enough to try and fire on it.... yes I would.
stupidest one.....no, I was referring to your first post, genius. Talk about meaningless post.......!
@GCCal
Oh I get it, you only have the mental capacity to respond to one line sound bites. Ok heres another one for you:
GOP = Gun Owning Puxxies
Enjoy Einstein.
My opinion is? No guns sold at yard sales or newspaper ads. No gun shows. All guns must be purchased thru a legal gun shop in good standing as a dealer. A thorough back ground check and mental health check. A required safety course with the purchased gun. All ammunition sold must be documented and the buyer checked out by background and mental health check. We must tighten laws and sales of gun ownership at federal level.
A very logical policy is the only way to ensure that guns are safely used.
If you want me vetted before I can own a firearm, I want you vetted before you are allowed to utter a syllable. Sound fair?
Not even close to being similar in nature, Jack
A right is a right. Right?
Words can be much more dangerous than guns. Just ask all of the govts. and societies who've been toppled by some select speech aimed at the right people.
Perhaps one could ask some Egyptians.
Still not even close in nature, Jack although I do understand what you were inferring.
The reality is that hate speech of one kind or another is responsible for more deaths than firearms. Anti-2nd amendment speech is just one more form of hate speech. Just look at the comments here about this subject. People say we're nuts, we're crazy, we're extremists for simply wanting to exercise our inalienable rights. If that isn't ludicrous hate speech, then you aren't paying attention.
Lol, I don't have a dog in this fight, but, what you're saying is that being told you can't do something, or shouldn't do something, is hate speech. You call it exercising your "Inalienable rights." If I remember correctly the inalienable rights expressly stated in the Constitution are; "Life, liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Before that it says something about being endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights and that among them are....what I posted.
MSNBC,, "spells Americans"----AMERCIANS,, CHECK THEIR HEADLINE,, Sad and pathetic
MSNBC NOT smarter than a 5th grader.
Defend America forever---Then get off the sight if its that bad. Arent you smarter than a 1st grader?
Tac-45, OMG, MSNBC offers pure entertainment
Wouldn't miss a second of their "version of the news"
--------------------
Tac- You enjoy being mis-lead and LIED to about the news ??
You report on a poll that indicates that in general, Americans from all political affiliations favor the watered down 2nd amendment. But then you give soapbox to Mr. Jackson who appears (from his statements in this story) to be at the radical end of American spectrum, to fabricate a story (that btw just happens to fit the uber-liberal stance that wants to effectively lay waste to the 2nd amendment), that a large number of Americans support "strong regulation, or at least moderate regulation."
Irresponsible journalism is just as dangerous as irresponsible gun-ownership. It amazes me that many journalists want to use their unregulated 1st amendment rights to attack the already heavily regulated and watered down 2nd amendment rights. Journalists can basically lie all they want (without legal ramifications) to change public perception in an attempt engineer our society to their narrow view.
Do these people know the difference between a right and a privilege? We are born with the right to speak. Does anyone here have to register their their larynx, pens or computers to speak out. No (it was a rhetorical question). We are also born with the right to keep & bear arms to defend our nation and our individual lives no matter what one thinks or feels period. The NRA isn't trying to expand gun rights, they are just as inalienable as rights to speech, remember "shall not infringe"?
I'm tired of the massive social engineering agenda that exists to do an end-around on the Constitution. People you are being used by both parties to effectively dismantle the Bill of Rights. You can bank on it.
THEN, as usual, MSNBC ALTERS the Original REUTERS article by ADDING in their own slanted paragraphs
MSNBC---- changing the news to fit their agenda
It would be interesting to see the polling difference between automatic weapons and semi-automatic weapons. Semi-automatic (aka self loading) weapons simply load another round in the chamber when fired, but do not continue to fire if the trigger is held down. Automatic weapons (aka fully automatic) continue firing, as long as the trigger is held down, until the weapon runs out of ammunition.
Semi-autos are used extensively in hunting, especially for ducks, geese, and other game birds, but also sometimes for larger animals. Fully automatic weapons, in my view, have no valid purpose beyond law inforcement and military use. I believe that even most law enforcement agencies do not use fully automatic weapons, for fear of collateral injury or damage. - DW
As as side note and prediction:
Obama wins only 12 states in 2012.
The Supreme court knocks down Obamacare 7-2.
Bernie--Prediction: You are obsessed and it will be a problem for you in the future.
tact,
Thank you..........
One more prediction: The Cubs will NOT win The World Series in 2012.
P.S. What problem?
AND if he is right, then you are the one who will have a problem in the future.
A Criminal commits crimes and breaks Laws. So how can anyone think that a Criminal will follow any laws or restirctions. Even with tight gun controls criminals will get guns period. Heroine and Cocaine are illegal to possess, sell or purchase, they both are smuggled in from other countries. How easy is it to find some? How well did Prohibition work. The alcohol flowed in from other countries. Would not the same happen IF handguns etc. were to be banned or restricted? Would it just not create a lucrative black market? People kill People not guns! How many people are killed by drunk drivers? The car didn't do it. It was the irresponsibility of the car operator. It is illegal to drive drunk but has that stopped DUI related injuries and deaths. Does the driver start out in the evening think Im going to get blasted, drive drunk and kill someone? Do we ban cars to stop drunk driving?
"I'll give you my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands!" F the government restrictions on guns!
Really?!?!? BWahahahahaha!
If the government wanted to take your guns, they would be gone already and nothing you could ever get your precious mis-guided fingers could keep a moderately equipped police force at bay, let alone our military. Bwahahaha.
Then again, you could always use the plastic tarp and ducttape Bush Jr. recommended you use to protect you from a chemical or biological attack.
Bwahahahahaha!
Meanest One.... Should be Stupidest one...
Lol, either way it'll be out of your hands. Pried from cold dead fingers or confiscated, your choice.
Ok, I can understand wanting to own handguns, hunting rifles, and smaller-caliber firearms like that. But can someone PLEASE tell me why people NEED to own AK-47s and other military-grade assault weapons? What is the reasoning behind that? Why is it considered infringing on your second amendment rights if an individual isn't allowed to be armed to the teeth like the military forces of a small country? To me, that is serious overkill. No pun intended.
I swear this country really does have a Rambo complex!
It's called choice. Why do people need to own suv's or 20,000 sq. ft. homes. They don't. It's called choice, aka the American dream.
Up...
Please define "assault weapons".
UP, a quote from George Washington, "A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a state of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
Absolutely right Sean, Washington had it right because he had just won a Revolution against a government that abused us. Still, I think he meant a well-armed and trained militia. Would it be logical to think that Washington was talking about a newly implemented government? Sort of like saying the people need to be well armed to protect them from him, and the new government.
"You cannot invade mainland America. There will be a rifle behind every blade of grass" - Admiral Yamamoto.
Folks, just because someone carries doesn't mean they have male ego "Rambo" issues. I know many women gun owners who feel more safe and confident. They are better pistol shooters too for some reason.
Those on the left preach about not being prejudiced. Well ... then stop being prejudiced against gun owners. I am proud of the fact I am able to protect a liberal friend if his or her life is ever in danger (knock on wood). There are assumptions about the "gun crowd" culture that aren't true. Some of the coolest, most down-to-earth, likeable, patriotic, and friendly people are men and women I've met at gun ranges.
I admire the political left's desire for utopia, but that can't be achieved. Why? Human nature remains constant throughout time. But for the sake of argument, if utopia were achievable in an American fashion let's say, that would require everyone else being like us. Then where's all your multiculturalism? An unfortunate fact of history though is having different cultures is conducive to inducing conflicts either on an international, national, state, or personal level. Conflict has been a constant part of the human condition.
We need the left's "feminine" idealism to try to have peace, but we'll always need the right's "masculine" realism for protection. I and all gun owners I know are glad to have guns. Do understand though we hope to never need to use them.
In my state, we had a big problem with carjackings. Concealed Carry soon got passed. Funny .... you don't hear about carjackings anymore. Interesting how that worked and the roads are safer now.
Women are good with handguns. They tend to be smoother and more disciplined while shooting.
75% support a concealed handgun law.........I think that alone makes the largest statement in the polls. That means most or a lot of people who wouldn't get one still support someone else to have one.
Translation: Most people aren't wingnuts.
Hmm. You wouldn't know this from watching 24 hour cable news.
Up, Personally I see no reason for the average citizen to have a need for FULL automatic weapons. I do have some military style weapons, Bolt action, for recreational range/target shooting.
MOST citizens CAN'T afford a machine gun
Avg. price of a LEGAL machine gun is between $ 10- 75,000+
A Thompson usually runs around $ 40,000-ish
50cal nearer that $ 75k mark and at $ 3-5 each round, WOW, now that's expensive
Out of my budget .308, 30-06 bad enough!
Roc, a quote from George Washington, "A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a state of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
Thank You!
The timing of this poll is the only thing interesting here. Just looking at the numbers, you can tell it is skewed by the Zimmerman-Martin case going on. The numbers would have been very different before and very different after everyone forgets about that case. And all that proves is that people are reactionary, which is all it takes to get our rights taken away (just like 9/11) because though your emotions are temporary, you rarely get your rights back once they are taken away.
thank you NRA. i am a supporter of the NRA but also of certain gun reform laws. i personally don't see the need for an assult rifle to go hunt "bambi". i do not feel everyone should have the right to own an AK-47 or an AR-15 or M-16. certain collectors with appropriate licenses and meuseums for display fine. here in Texas we have a special season for "black powder" hunters. if i at 67 years of age can bag a buck with a shot from a muzzle loader, i don't see the necessity for a multishot auto or semi-auto to do the same. but i appreciate the efforts of the NRA to protect our constitutional rights to "keep and bare arms".
Hunting has absolutely notta to do with the 2nd amendment.
Wanted to add: Hunting was ubiquitous, if you wanted to eat meat, you hunted.
Gary, a quote from George Washington, "A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a state of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
Does not one need to keep arms to hunt?
It would be interesting to see the difference in polling on fully automatic weapons (hold down the trigger and the gun keeps firing until it's empty) and semi-automatic weapons (when fired, the gun automatically cocks, but does not fire again until the triger is released and pulled again). Semi-automatic weapons are used extensively for waterfowl and game bird hunting, and sometimes for larger game, while fully automatic weapons have no valid civilian use (in my view). I believe that even most law enforcement agencies do not use fully automatic weapons for fear of collateral damage. - DW
Although I do not have guns any longer, I believe Americans should have the right to carry weapons. Having said that, I agee fully with your comment about automatic weapons.
DW, as an avid gun collector, shooter, and hunter I also agree.
DW, a quote from George Washington, "A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a state of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
like i "trust" msnbc's statistics on this??? REALLY? we all know there agenda.
I wouldn't join them b/c the NRA's psycho-leader is a EF'ing, certified LIAR!
I don't belong to the NRA. I am sure they don't miss me just as they could care less about you.
These gun freaks are taking us back to the old west days. These stand your ground laws are insane and are not legal and will not stand up in court. This is becoming a shoot out at the OK Corral in public and in the United States.(Crazy Crazy Crazy) I can see the people from Europe and far east going lets not go to there for a vacation and a tour. These Gun fanatics are just that looney tunes and anyone who belongs to the NRA isn't really a balanced person. After we see a couple of thousand people killed by some idiot's with guns then we will rethink this stuff but what about those that are dead. Look at the Zimmerman case and that is just for starters there will be many more and for what some nut chasing some kid around for no good reason. Wake up folks these gun nuts are more a danger than any foreign enemy to the average citizen.
The old west narrative huh? Please, tell me how many were murdered in the "old west", I forgot.
A lot of people were murdered in the "Old West," but not in the towns that had a gun ordnance; "When entering town check your firearms." Well, not by guns anyway. People being people they used other methods.
And how are the cops supposed to know during an emergency situation, who is the bad guy and who is the guy who has the permit to carry a gun? And, what happens if the guy with the permit is the bad guy?
Does the bad guy say,"hey, don't shoot the good guy, shoot me". Or can the cops always tell good from bad?
as for those the believe in resticting guns... make all the laws you want and the criminal will be the first to pat you on the back and say thank you. (its dangerus kicking in doors to pillage when people might have guns on the other side!!) anyone that want a automatic weapon will just have the parts machined even if they are not sold. a guy with a metal lathe could build his own gun all day long..(gonna ban metal lathes now??) ITS "PEOPLE" THAT DO THE KILLING, THE GUN IS JUST A TOOL...
#216
Hell, you don't even have to have a metal lathe, just go to Toys R Us, buy a toy gun with a heavy frame, go to the hardware store and buy a 1/2" pipe nipple, get some rubber bands and you'll have a serviceable firearm, cheap. Lol, wear a good face mask though when you discharge the thing.
I prefer to rely on the judgments of those smarter than me:
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms.. disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants" - Thomas Jefferson
"That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United states who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms..." - Samuel Adams
"To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them." - George Mason
"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." - James Madison
"The conclusion is thus inescapable that the history, concept, and wording of the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as well as its interpretation by every major commentator and court in the first half-century after its ratification, indicates that what is protected is an individual right of a private citizen to own and carry firearms in a peaceful manner." - Subcommittee on the Constitution, 97th Congress
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin
"(Those) who are trying to read the Second Amendment out of the Constitution by claiming it's not an individual right (are) courting disaster by encouraging others to use the same means to eliminate portions of the Constitution they don't like." - Alan Dershowitz
And those who are reviled:
"The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so." - Adolf Hitler
Mitt Waffles with Voter Syrup
Romney often strayed from the GOP party plank as he sought to broaden his base of support in Massachusetts. He backed two gun-control measures that were strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association: the Brady Law, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on certain assault weapons, saying, "I think they will help." He left off the last words, being "will help me get elected!" Where is Charlton Heston when we need him? Mitt is a conservative? Sure.
The NRA has changed immensely in the last 10 years. But what organization will step up and fight for our rights? It takes a lot money to lobby in D.C. I do think they are out living their need and are becoming greedy, just like the labor unions. They had their time and place but money has changed them also.
As far as what gun should anyone be allowed to have..who cares if it is legal. If you think you need an AK go buy it legally. Personally see no need for it except to spend a lot of money shooting it. I prefer semi auto shotguns to hunt birds with, I am just more acurate not using a pump.
Unions are there for the money, look at the worth of some of the larger unions. How much lobbing do they do? How much influence do they have? Unions are NPO, what a joke. Yes it also takes money for the NRA to lobby for gun rights also.
Before I get slammed for spelling Lobbying.