Rasmussen Poll: Does the U.S. need stricter gun control laws?

[Hope And Change]

Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters
June 21, 2008

Does the U.S. need stricter gun control laws?

Yes
44%

No
44%

Not Sure
12%


Voters Split on Need for Stricter Gun Control Laws, but Oppose City Handgun Ban

Sunday, June 22, 2008

American voters are evenly divided on the need for stricter gun control laws but don’t think city government should have the right to prevent citizens from owning handguns in their city.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 44% say stricter gun control laws while another 44% disagree and 12% are not sure. Most African-American and Hispanic voters believe stricter gun control laws are needed while a plurality (47%) of White voters disagree. Sixty-two percent (62%) of Democrats say stricter gun control laws are needed and 63% of Republicans hold the opposite view. Among unaffiliated voters, 37% want stricter laws while 48% disagree. Overall, the desire for stricter gun control laws is little changed from last December.

However, while there is an even divide on the question of whether stricter laws are needed, only 26% believe that city governments have the right to prevent citizens from owning handguns in their city. Sixty-four percent (64%) disagree and say such a restriction is a violation of the Second Amendment. The United States Supreme Court is expected to announce a decision soon on whether a Washington, DC law banning handguns violates the Constitution.

The Second Amendment was ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, a collection of vital Amendments added shortly after the Constitution went into effect. The Amendment reads "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." Some have argued that this provides a right to bear arms only in the context of a well-regulated militia. Others reject that notion and say it’s an individual right. The Supreme Court has never ruled definitively on that question. That last major Court ruling on this Amendment was issued nearly 70 years ago when justices upheld a federal ban on sawed-off shotguns.

Not surprisingly, households where someone owns a gun are particularly inclined to believe that a ban on handguns violates the Second Amendment-- 80% of those from gun owning households hold that view. Among households without a gun owner, 35% believe the government has the right to ban handgun ownership while 50% say the Second Amendment trumps the city law.

more...

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/issues2/articles/voters_split_on_need_for_stricter_gun_control_laws_but_oppose_city_handgun_ban

[MercutioATC]

1. All I want is for people to make an informed decision.

Most people who would call themselves "anti-gun" know virtually nothing about guns.

If somebody wants to support either side of this issue (or any issue, for that matter), responsible citizenship demands that they understand the issues before crusading.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

2. Listen up it comes down to this. I DON'T WANT GANG BANGERS

TO CARRY GUNS !

[stompk]

3. gang bangers

are unlikely to follow stricter gun laws. they don't follow the ones we have now.

why penalize the only people who DO obey the laws ?

[NeedleCast]

6. I don't either. Do you think gang bangers are likely to care

if we make gun control stricter?

[Prophet 451]

7. Nor does anyone else

Thing is, criminals don't obey the law, it's kind of a job requirement. The only people stricter regulations would penalise is law-abiding gun owners and for the most part, they aren't the problem.

Some sensible regulation is obviously in order (I still think basic safety testing should be mandatory) but the key term there is "sensible". Caution is fine but panic is dangerous.

[PM7nj]

4. I wonder how people IN CITIES feel about handgun bans. nt

[cbc5g]

5. Gun bans aren't the solution..ending prohibition that gives thugs and gangs huge sums of money, is.

Drug prohibition is the leading cause of gangs and thugs getting huge sums of money to buy guns, and since they are in the black market, getting guns is easier.

All gun bans would do is take guns away from law abiding citizens.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

9. You and your practical solutions...

Coming in here and talking sense. Go! Begone with you!!

:sarcasm:

[balantz]

8. Never mind that sad distraction (though an important issue)

The U.S. needs better fascist-control laws! We need to get these fascists out of our government!