Has anyone in this forum ever been contacted by a pollster like this? Or any poll in general? I've yet to have anyone contact me about these kind of polls and when you look at how many are actually polled, it's only a few thousand to maybe 10,000 and change.
Gun ownership (and attitudes about guns) in America
- Thread starter AlexanderA
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I haven't seen any........but then I don't watch much prime time TV..
AlexanderA
Member
The rule of thumb for a statistically valid sample is around 1,200 responses. When you consider the total U.S. population of 330+ million, the chances of any one individual being contacted are infinitesimally low. But that doesn't mean that the poll is trash, as long as it's conducted randomly. You can't get a picture of gun ownership, for example, just by polling subscribers to the American Rifleman.
Each poll is one point of data. They have to be tracked over time in order to draw any meaningful conclusions.
Simple Shooter
Member
"I don't care about crime, I just want to get the guns." - Ohio Senator Howard Metzenbaum (c.1993)
Ohio has come a long way. Thirty years ago, CCW was absolutely forbidden. It was illegal and considered a social evil akin to street mimes and public nose picking. Now, we are a right to carry state and it is not uncommon to see a gun bulge or two (or more!) at the supermarket if you are the sort who knows how to spot them.
And while open carry is rare in Ohio, gun ownership is not. People I never thought would own a gun have come to me for advise on buying and for training. My most liberal friend (yes, conservatives and liberals can disagree and still be friends) now has a Sig P365 that goes wherever he goes. I know. His wife knows. His kids know. But I doubt anyone else does and he would probably not admit it for a survey. Have to agree the number of gun owners is likely higher than this survey found.
Simple Shooter
Member
If I had to guess:
Crime is going to be a hot topic in the upcoming presidential election. They are setting the stage to claim the rise in crime (mostly in large cities) is due to more Americans owning guns rather than the policies of the current administration.
Outlaw75
Member
Trying to get a certain demographic upset enough to ensure that they'll vote next year for a certain political party that is desperate for votes.
What has happened when we give them an inch?
They have keep trying to come back for more gun control. After the 94 restriction had sunset in 04 they have been constantly trying to revive it and make it worse. It's worse at the state and local levels than the Federal level, since the Fed level lacks the support vs state and local.
I’ve not answered unknown numbers since caller ID was initiated. So who knows.
doubleh
Member
Most likely to keep the anti-gunners on their toes insisting on more control would be my guess.
buck460XVR
Member
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Back when the polls indicated Gun Owners were in the minority, folks here claimed that either the numbers were fixed or the poll skewed. That said, while I am happy with the current poll numbers, what concerns me the most is this from the article.....
...Funny, I see little to no denials to gun ownership on this board. But just the opposite. The amount of pictures posted, along with the responses to "what gun to buy?"(generally, "buy one like mine!") tells me different. Just being on this board, IMHO, is an admission of gun ownership.
Living in rural Wisconsin, I have seen little if any, change in the stigma of gun ownership. Even those folks who don't own a firearm, have no problem with those who do. Opening day of gun deer season is like a National Holiday. Now, maybe in other parts of the country there is a significant change.
...as I quoted in the first response, while the poll shows more admit to owning firearms, the response of the majority still wanting more restrictions tells me, that a moderate gun control platform can still be a viable campaign promise. The battle is not won yet. Another horrific mass shooting and the numbers could easily swing again.
cowboy77845
Member
When visiting my LGS, I see more women buying. Seems like that is a good thing.
It's always great to see women in the stores, ranges...
It's usually the male ego that turns women off to guns. You have to teach them with your ego turned off.
Women don't like "Mansplain" when learning. If more guys taught like they were teaching their daughters, more women would be shooting.
It's usually the male ego that turns women off to guns. You have to teach them with your ego turned off.
Women don't like "Mansplain" when learning. If more guys taught like they were teaching their daughters, more women would be shooting.
JTHunter
Member
The old "If it bleeds, it leads" mindset.
And, as far as any poll goes, I just answer "NOYDB".
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One thing I've always thought is that the major competitions need to be more female friendly.
There have been major TV, Internet MSM stories on gun buying that have been positive. Seen them on Lester Holt's show for instance. Esp. after 10/7, many stories of folks who are not typical, seeing the need for SD guns.
There have been major TV, Internet MSM stories on gun buying that have been positive. Seen them on Lester Holt's show for instance. Esp. after 10/7, many stories of folks who are not typical, seeing the need for SD guns.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
Yep, what he said...
i cant buy this line. such formerly strident antigunners who jump into a owning a firearm just now are fairweather friends. for too long we quiet and normal gun owners of all stripes have been demonized, yet we get no special victim hall pass. show me their willingness to take gun ownership seriously by joining pro-2a groups, practicing alot and offering up public contrition for demonizing us as “gun-toting, bible-clinging deplorables,” and i might have an ounce of sympathy to share.
AlexanderA
Member
Those are the antigun politicians. The gun ownership poll reflects the rank and file. The politicians (both anti- and pro-gun) follow what they believe to be public sentiment. Therefore, if it begins to seem that the majority of the public owns guns, at least some of the elected officials (ostensibly antigun) will have second thoughts. At least that's how it would work in a rational world.
I was polled long time ago, late 90s or early 2000s. The question was rather vague. Do I support back ground checks? This was during the Clinton administration. What they didn't say was they wanted alleges approval for mandatory or universal back ground check on all guns or plain old gun registration. And they continue to push it thru Biden, total back checks and allege gun show loop-holes etc.
I disagree with your logic on this your answer. Look at Canada. They re-implemented gun registration in 2012. They thought it would only cost a couple of million. To date, I read, they are up to $50 million in cost and only think they have 8% of firearms. Though no one knows for sure. Their population is 38.9 million and 1.6 million guns have been registered = 4%. Now I know of many people from Canada and every one of them owns a firearm. So go figure. I don't think we Yankees would be much different.
I didn't say registration, I said turn them in or go to jail, period!
There's a big difference and if the anti gun crowd had their way, they would do it.
I also believe that over 90% of people would line up for it. All we have to do is look at other countries examples.
I also believe that people would turn their neighbors in. All we have to do is look at the past for an example.
There's a big difference and if the anti gun crowd had their way, they would do it.
I also believe that over 90% of people would line up for it. All we have to do is look at other countries examples.
I also believe that people would turn their neighbors in. All we have to do is look at the past for an example.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
I trust the management of this board more than I trust some random number who cold-calls my cell phone and says they’re doing a “survey”.
Also, a pollster calling your phone number has your real name and knows where you live. By contrast, that information is not displayed for strangers browsing THR, who cannot easily connect most usernames to a name and address (which is why I think using real names on discussion forums is generally a very bad idea).
I went through a long period where I was a political independent and had more posts on Democratic Underground than THR. A gun-ban activist from DU tried to doxx me (both there and by scraping all my THR posts) presumably to try to retaliate/harm me in some way for expressing opinions contrary to hers, but was unsuccessful. Would you voluntarily give people like that your name, address, and what valuables you own and (depending on the poll) how you store them? And how do you know the person ringing your phone for an “survey” isn’t some left-wing activist?
Jim Watson
Member
There are people who think that they are entitled to own a gun but I am not.
The poll never implied that their number represented gun ownership. And even using it to indicate which way ownership is moving might be iffy. It could be impacted by the change in willingness to answer the question truthfully. I’d bet there’s also a percentage of those in these polls who say they own guns and don’t. People lie.
BTB: I don’t do a survey unless I get paid. It goes like this: Pollster: We’d like to get your valuable opinion on xyzzy. Me: Just how much do you value my opinion? They usually hang up. And yes I’ve gotten paid and am on a polling company’s list that pays me per question. Only about ~$20/mo but it’s something.
BTB: I don’t do a survey unless I get paid. It goes like this: Pollster: We’d like to get your valuable opinion on xyzzy. Me: Just how much do you value my opinion? They usually hang up. And yes I’ve gotten paid and am on a polling company’s list that pays me per question. Only about ~$20/mo but it’s something.
I haven't seen a thing passed by anyone with any significant meaning and people have actually become more gun favorable since the silly riots we had here and the Hammas **** demonstrations after what they pulled in Israel. I'm really not too worried about any significant legislation affecting gun control or gun restrictions in this county.
But it's good that some of you keep whining and moaning about how we are losing more gun rights.....but I just haven't seen it.
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