A majority of Americans are extremist gun-grabbers who hate freedom.

[Direckshun]

So says WaPo/ABC poll:

Overall, 53 percent of the public carries a favorable impression of Obama’s proposals while 41 percent are opposed.

While the poll represents a first reaction to the president’s plan, views on it are surprisingly hardened already. Almost seven in 10 give the plan “strongly” favorable (38 percent) or strongly unfavorable ratings (31 percent).

And, partisans have closed ranks. Fully 76 percent of Democrats rate Obama’s proposals favorably, while nearly as many Republicans say the opposite (72 percent). Independents tilt positively toward the newly announced restrictions: 51 percent favorable and 44 percent unfavorable.

By contrast, a separate Post-ABC poll conducted before Obama’s announcement found Republicans overwhelmingly supporting — or no worse than evenly divided — on four central Obama proposals. Nearly nine in 10 Republicans in that survey supported requiring background checks at gun shows, 65 percent supported adding armed guards in schools and 59 percent supported a ban on high-capacity clips. Republicans’ least-liked current proposal — banning assault weapons — was opposed by a modest 51 to 45 percent margin.

One potential reason for Republicans’ rejection of the new proposals is principle. Obama unveiled a broad slate of new gun restrictions, and the vast majority of Republicans oppose stricter gun control laws (in general), according to a December Post-ABC poll. While polls found Republicans are open to specific gun control measures, they may be less open to a comprehensive approach.

Another possibility? It’s Obama.

Republicans’ sharp negative reaction to Obama’s gun control proposals symbolizes a paradox of presidential leadership in a hyper-partisan era.

And so says a particularly striking Gallup poll:

Given the chance to vote 'for' or 'against' each of nine key proposals included in President Obama's plan to reduce gun violence, Americans back all nine.

This is what you guys were saying all through the healthcare debate, right? That Obama was trying to impose something that Americans didn't want?

Well he is riding a wave of public opinion, now, if he wasn't already on this subject.

It's become a winner.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by fan4ever

I see everyone telling this guy this, but then I see how many participate in his threads

They don't like me, but they think the subjects I post about are generally interesting. So they weigh in and a discussion begins.

Not hard to figure out.

[johnny961]

Same old cherry picked stats. About a week ago Yahoo (a very liberal outlet I might add) ran a similar poll asking how many people preferred stricter gun control. Something like a half a MILLION people responded, and 59% replied that the existing laws were sufficient and no additional gun control was needed. That poll disappeared rather quickly and I have not been able to locate it. Anybody know if there is a way to search yahoo's old or archived polls?

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by johnny961

Same old cherry picked stats. About a week ago Yahoo (a very liberal outlet I might add) ran a similar poll asking how many people preferred stricter gun control. Something like a half a MILLION people responded, and 59% replied that the existing laws were sufficient and no additional gun control was needed. That poll disappeared rather quickly and I have not been able to locate it. Anybody know if there is a way to search yahoo's old or archived polls?

I don't -- but online polls are not known to be terrifically accurate compared to sampled polls.

[johnny961]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I don't -- but online polls are not known to be terrifically accurate compared to sampled polls.

I agree to a point. But there is no way in hell a sampled poll of 1000 people can be done to accurately reflect the views of 300 million people either. Thats an average of 20 people per state. No way.

[A Salt Weapon]

Pretty easy to make a poll reflect whatever you want. I could poll 1,000 AR15 owners the same questions and have vasly different results. As to the fact the washington post/abc can just make up whatever they want and I'm positive that they do. Here's a poll I just conducted on 5,000 people via phone:

Question

Is direckshun a stupid ignorant piece of shit?

Results

Republicans: 100% yes : 0% no
Democrats: 100% yes : 0% no
Independants: 100% yes : 0% no

Male: 100% yes : 0% no
Female: 100% yes : 0% no

White: 100% yes : 0% no
Black: 100% yes : 0% no
Other: 100% yes : 0% no

Seems pretty conclusive to me.

[Buzz_TinBalls]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

I have been a Republican for many years, and don't understand how anyone being objective, could be against back ground checks.

The only explanation could be total unilateral barriers IMO.

I sure don't have any desire or need to have an assault weapon, but that doesn't mean I even have a real understanding of the desire to own one that those enthusiasts have.

If they are qualified and pass the background check, leave them the **** alone.

I'm also a lifer republican & I appose background checks for a few reasons;

* the purpose is to deny a known criminal, arms access. well, if you already are in the system, then why not use the system against criminals instead of using a different system to check everyone else as well. lunacy. bureaucratic fail.

* now that you are in fact in the criminal records system, you need to be identified through your identification information -- your driver license or I.D. card, which is require by law.

* all states should coordinate criminal identification. whether it be rapists, killers, thieves -- what ever. the info isn't detailed, it is flagged.

* the DOJ is already a system. use it. make it accountable. make it accurate. make it work.


Tired of the bureaucratic murk. It woks wonderfully in the private sector -- no license, no rental car. yet the rental car industry just keeps plugging along quite nicely and without fail.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by johnny961

I agree to a point. But there is no way in hell a sampled poll of 1000 people can be done to accurately reflect the views of 300 million people either. Thats an average of 20 people per state. No way.

It seemed to work out relatively well for the elections.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

My post intent went right over your head.

Yes, it did, my bad and apologies

[Iowanian]

I think about 53% of Americans confirmed they were morons in November.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by johnny961

I agree to a point. But there is no way in hell a sampled poll of 1000 people can be done to accurately reflect the views of 300 million people either. Thats an average of 20 people per state. No way.

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

Pretty easy to make a poll reflect whatever you want.

Lemme guess--you two were POSTIVE Romney was going to win in a landslide, weren't you?

[A Salt Weapon]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Lemme guess--you two were POSTIVE Romney was going to win in a landslide, weren't you?

Nope, shitty candidate. Eliminated the christian base. Gun grabbing progressive disguised as a republican. I was hoping he won just to destroy barrack's ego, but fully expected romney to lose.

[FishingRod]

The problem with this poll and the general public as a whole is they think in sound bites. People don’t dig beneath the surface of a question to think about what it really means and, what will happen if the question becomes a reality.

Question

1.– do we need to do more to prevent gun violence against children. YES!

2. Would you be in favor of banning guns to prevent innocent children being murdered, YES!

3. Should we do what is necessary to reduce the number rapes and robberies. YES!

4. If we save one child’s life but 50 adults lose theirs and 100 more women are raped due to more restrictive gun legislation is it worth it? SHUT UP!

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by FishingRod

4. If we save one child’s life but 50 adults lose theirs and 100 more women are raped due to more restrictive gun legislation is it worth it? SHUT UP!

My answer to that would be what region of who's ass did you pull this information from, as it is clearly made up.

[Iowanian]

The majority of the people who support gun control would be great candidates for Jay-Walking skits.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

The majority of the people who support gun control would be great candidates for Jay-Walking skits.

As opposed to all the pro-gun folks, right? I'm sure, to a man, they are beacons of enlightenment.