Wednesday, October 26, 2011

A Graphic Representation of "Tipping Point"

The new Gallup poll, released today, chronicles what we've been saying...there has been a societal change regarding guns:

A record-low 26% of Americans favor a legal ban on the possession of handguns in the United States other than by police and other authorized people. When Gallup first asked Americans this question in 1959, 60% favored banning handguns. But since 1975, the majority of Americans have opposed such a measure, with opposition around 70% in recent years.

For the first time ever, there is more opposition to a new AWB than support.

Conclusion?

A clear societal change took place regarding gun ownership in the early 1990s, when the percentage of Americans saying there was a gun in their home or on their property dropped from the low to mid-50s into the low to mid-40s and remained at that level for the next 15 years. Whether this reflected a true decline in gun ownership or a cultural shift in Americans' willingness to say they had guns is unclear. However, the new data suggest that attitudes may again be changing. At 47%, reported gun ownership is the highest it has been in nearly two decades -- a finding that may be related to Americans' dampened support for gun-control laws. However, to ensure that this year's increase reflects a meaningful rebound in reported gun ownership, it will be important to see whether the uptick continues in future polling.

Yep...we've tipped...This is consistent with changes we've been seeing over the last few years. Perhaps people have noticed that gun control never works, that concealed carry doesn't translate into "every intersection a Dodge City," and that gun that might not mirror your grandfather's hunting rifle aren't evil.

This is a good thing.

13 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:32 AM

    Well said Michael. You have inspired me to add two more to my stable and support multiple guns in the home. Hmmm, let's see, what will they be? How about a pair of 45 LC in SS? Order placed.. Keep up the great work.

    SecretWeapon........

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  2. Rob Drummond6:57 AM

    That is good news, indeed. But with the current administration in office & with the president saying things like he is going to do all he can do without going through Congress, I would still be on guard & wary.

    The president once said, when asked about gun control, we are working on it under the table. I belive this was before the F & F fiasco. Before Hilliary saying the US wants to support the US Small Arms Aggreement, etc. Remember it wasn't that long ago that the Health Care bill passed with less thab 40% of the US public support.

    Be ever wary of what can happen to our rights!
    Rob Drummond
    Hillsboro, NH

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  3. "gunner"10:31 AM

    micheal,
    i could wonder if, in part, the outrageous claims of the gun grabbers have back fired on them, drawing attention to the fact that "keeping and bearing arms" is indeed the right of a law abiding citizen. it seems that every time the grabbers get a politician elected who promises them that he will work toward their goals the public at large goes on a gun buying spree. i've done it myself, buying a pair of f.n semi-auto rifles for myself and my son just before the clinton "assault weapons" ban came down, and i've see the same thing when obama ran for president with a record of favouring "gun control".

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  4. Now, if we can just get the sociqalist in chief and his attorney general out of office and replace them with the mirror image of current social judgement we may finally be approaching nirvana... but keep your guard WAY up!

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  5. I do agree that the wildly overstated "fears" of the anti gunners hurt them badly. As each fear failed to materialize, it left them out in lift field looking stupid.

    We have to be very wary of the existing administration...Fast & Furious is an example of how far they will go to implement gun control behind the scenes. As one of the first people to call F&F a pure gun control program aimed at robbing American gun owners of their rights, I'm gratified to see that is more and more the mainstream view.

    BTW, DamDoc, am at DS Arms today...I have one of their FALs...superb guns!

    mb

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  6. eeyore8:24 PM

    I hope you're right, Michael. But as my nick implies, I'm not so sure. We still have practically an entire nation full of public school systems ready to severely punish kids for "finger" guns.

    And Heller and McDonald are one Second-Obama-Term-Scalia-Retirement away from challenge.

    The statistical trend looks good, and I think more and more revelations in F & F are going to help us.

    But a dependable tipping point....

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  7. Nick the Okie9:49 PM

    This is my first comment on the blog so go easy on me here...

    Very well articulated as usual, Michael! As a person who is on the final step of your "prepper" mission mentioned on the podcast, I'm looking into a semi-auto carbine (even though my '53 Winchester 1894 will be giving me dirty looks).

    I am curious however your feelings on Ron Paul as he relates to your topic being the only candidate who has introduced bills in congress in the past to end the AWB and repeal the "Brady Act".

    Finally, I'm a HUGE fan of the podcast, blog, and produced TV shows and thank you for what you do!

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  8. The problem with Ron Paul is that he has zero chance of winning anything and a slightly askew foreign policy. One of the few things I agree that the federal government (as the Founder suggested) should do is protect us from the whackier side of the world. I believe the reality is that there is always a Hitler waiting in the wings, and as as seductive as isolationism can be it leads us to a very bad place.

    I also agree that the U.N. Small Arms Agreement is a profoundly dangerous threat to our gun rights, and that the current administration will ram it through if they can...it is consistent with Obama's world governance policies...for example the Libyan excursion without the approval of Congress but with the approval of the U.N. and the Arab League. I don't care whether Gahhafi is stuffed and mounted as a display in the British Museum, but I do not believe we had a horse in that race, and as in Egypt, we may end up in a much worse place with a solidly Islamic Middle East running under sharia law.

    And hey, mo' guns is better! Look at my good sponsor Stag's AR-15s...excellent products at a fair price...or build one up yourself...I would also consider one of the CURRENT generation Mini-14s...theyt are nice little guns often offered at a good discount...

    mb

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  9. Nick the Okie10:48 PM

    Wow thanks for the suggestion, MB! Yes, mo' guns mo' better! I'm hoping to get in to some cowboy action after being inspired by your podcast so we shall see in the spring!

    I do have a little phrase that "If every person who says Ron Paul can't win would examine his record as a congressman (in this case a very pro-gun record) and support him, he would win." But I digress and just wished to point out what I believe the ideal stance on gun rights from our politicians should be.

    Thank you again for the reply and suggestion, Michael! Have a good weekend.

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  10. fn fal is on the list... just got a spfd m1a scout squad this week that will keep me busy for a couple months... got my wife to read "survivors" and convinced her we needed to stockpile several more arms for trading barder..

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  11. Anonymous7:38 PM

    Military pilot who had sex with an 11 year old boy when he was 17!!!
    A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL WHO HAD SEX WITH AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT!!! He needs to be on a sexual preditor list.
    How long did he masterbate and think about having sex with boys? In boot camp? Into his flight training? 20, 25 YEARS OLD??? OLDER???

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  12. Rob Drummond8:09 AM

    Michael,
    I have always thought the UN Small Arms Agreement and F&F were linked with the aim of ultimately getting control on guns, all guns in public hands. Which is why I am wary of statistical results. It certainly looks good but time will tell & with this administation in power we can't let our guard down, not one bit.

    I am worried about the up coming election if we get another four years of Obama this country & our individual rights will be in deep trouble & not just our gun rights.

    Rob Drummond
    Hillsboro, HN

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