Gun Rights Supporters Are More Enthusiastic

Gun control proponents less likely to act on their opinions, according to new poll

Most everyone's got an opinion on guns lately, but folks with a pro-gun point of view are more likely to put their proverbial money where their mouth is.

An "activism gap" exists between proponents of gun rights and those who support tighter gun control measures, informs USA Today's Susan Page, drawing on data from the Pew Research Center. Nearly one in four of the former have contributed to an organization - such as the NRA - that defends widespread gun ownership, while only 5% of the latter have given to a group with wholly different politics.

"Those concerned about gun rights are much more likely to place a priority on the issue and be politically active about it," writes Page. "An 'activism gap' between gun rights supporters and those who back stricter limits helps explain why gun control legislation has proved so difficult to enact."

But little gap exists, she notes, on the question of background checks and limiting gun access for those with a mental illness. 85% of Americans, and about an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, support a universal assessment of potential criminal history before allowing someone to obtain a firearm. And 80% agree on the importance of keeping guns away from those with psychological disorders.

Via USA Today.

What do you think explains the 'activism gap' in the gun control debate?

[Politicskid]

Let me remind everybody that there were far more occupiers then Tea Partiers. Which one actually made in an impact in something other then the traffic?

[cleverusername]

Now that just isn't fair. They helped out all those park employees who had to clean up the poo.

[woodtick57]

Which one of them made an impact in anything?

[thejimbo]

@woodtick57 Clever, clever!

[woodtick57]

@jamesmitchell Well, the occupiers made drum circles even more unpopular...that's a good thing, no?

[thejimbo]

@woodtick57 They ran out of squares so I say yes!

[Zazziness]

Right now some gun nuts -- and I do use that phrase deliberately -- are busy on the internet starting yet another ridiculous conspiracy theory. This time that Mr. Obama was responsible for the Sandy Hook murders. This makes me very, very angry, just as it did when people tried to claim that Mr. Bush bombed New York on 9/11. I don't care what your political affiliation is, you just don't pass around nonsense like that as true unless you have something better than some whackjob's utube video. I feel so sorry for the families who lost loved ones who must endure seeing their tragedy ruthlessly denigrated and perverted for some people's political cause.
I keep trying to be open-minded about the subject of gun control but with those who are against it coming out with this and then the less-disgusting-but-not-persua sive "We need our guns for come the revolution" it makes it hard to see that side as rational.

[cleverusername]

maybe they do not represent the whole? ever think of that?

[PNWest]

Excellent post - I commend you on your proper usage of the term gun nuts. On the one hand they claims that knives and hammers and cars are as lethal as cars. On the other they say they need an AK47 for protection. Why? Don't they already have knives and hammers and cars?

[Zazziness]

@cleverusername God, I hope the don't represent the whole. But as so often with this kind of thing, they are vocal, they are sure of themselves, and they are spattering as much of the internet as they can reach with their ghoulish idiocy. If you don't want people to think of them first when they think of anti-gun-control, you need to get louder and more public. And good luck with that because it's hard to out-enthuse a crazed conspiracy theorist.

[ir0nw0lfe]

@PNWest because guns make a civilization civilized. You cannot use force to persuade me if I am armed, you must use reason. Guns are the equalizer in that they are just as effective for the senior citizen as they are for a weight lifter or gang banger. Remove guns from the equation and the strongest most fit predators again rule. There's nothing civilized about that.

[PNWest]

@ir0nw0lfe Like we reasoned with the native Americans? I have no need to reason with you as long as I have more powerful weapons.

[marine1]

Maybe somewhere along the way a little common sense will come into play? Can't believe i'm saying that in todays society. Common sense, is that extinct or just on the endangerd species list?

[Denizen_Kate]

Not extinct yet, but certainly circling the drain. The loud mouthed "gun nuts" do not represent responsible gun users and owners any more than the Westboro Baptists represent Christians. The focus needs to shift away from how many guns you can own and what type of guns you can own, and more into spending some resources on the mental health issues of the teenage boys and young men who go on these shooting rampages, and on background checks, and on silly things like, oh, keeping your guns locked up at home and out of the hands of the nut cases in your own family.

[marine1]

@Denizen_Kate Squeaky wheel syndrome. Gun control,gay marraige,wellfare,debt ceiling,on& on &on &on. It's what we do best because it muddies the waters and then we won't have to do anything that might require accountibility. Aint it a great state of affairs that we have created?

[Food4thoughts]

*In my nerdiest voice possible*
Cash rules everything around me
c.r.e.a.m get the money
dollar dollar bills y'all

[jessejaymes]

Excuse me Politix? Gun nuts are spending every disposable dollar they can find on guns and their cause. Why wouldn't they outspend the other side? It's just part of the deal. I knew a pawn shop that contributed part of gun sale to the NRA. Suppose that contributions by gun dealers might skew the percentages a tad?

[mtkopf]

Don't forget contributions from gun manufacturing.

[jessejaymes]

@mtkopf LOL yeah I thought of them after I posted. Stand to reason those with a vested interest in profit from guns would make up a large amount of those contributions.

[mtkopf]

@mtkopf "follow the money. Always follow the money."

[jessejaymes]

@mtkopf Absolutely. Like death and taxes. Follow the money. It never changes.

[OhWiseOne]

Of course we are more enthusiastic! You're trying to take away our freedoms and we're telling you that we will not allow it.

[Denizen_Kate]

Y'all need to ease down. No one is taling about taking anything away from you. Fearmonger much?

[OhWiseOne]

@Denizen_Kate That's simply not true Kate. Alex Wagner who hosts the 12 o'clock show on MSDNC has openly called for repealing the 2nd amendment. She denies it now but they have her on tape saying it. And please don't act like some on the left wouldn't love to repeal it. No fearmongering, just honest facts.

[Denizen_Kate]

@OhWiseOne - So, some left wing pundit says it, and you believe that's what the government is trying to do? Like I said, fearmonger much? Here in the real world, even the number of far left liberals who want to repeal the 2nd are a small minority. Most of us are center of that, and what we want is more emphasis on background checks, more resources spent on the mental health of the teenage boys and young men who go on shooting sprees, a little less loophole in the gun show avenue of ownership, and less absentee parenting and leaving weapons reachable to the known nut jobs in one's own family. That make sense to you? It seems every time anyone begins a dialog about making changes in how we, as a nation, handle this obvious problem with guns in the hands of the irresponsible, the low information types knee-jerk to the insane conclusion that we're trying to take away their guns or infringe on their rights. I say again, ease down. Sheesh.

[PoliticalSpice]

@Denizen_Kate Ok wise one, I'll tell the truth. Our plan is to take away your guns, force you into a gay marriage, make you convert to muslimism, and raise taxes. In the name of the adminstration I beg you to stop exposing our plans. Your post on politix is the only thing stopping us from swearing in fidel castro as the next president.

[OhWiseOne]

@Denizen_Kate Would any of those things that you propose stop guns from getting into the hands of thugs and gangbangers? No. Would any of those proposals stop any criminal from getting their hands on guns if they really want them? No. We don't need any more laws in this country Kate. We simply need to enforce the ones we have.

[Knightkore]

Why? Because those who are supporters of the 2nd amendment are usually doers....those who are against the 2nd amentment....will eventually get around to doing something, someday....when Oprah tells them to....

[OhWiseOne]

I think you're talking about Obama's base. LOL!

[thejimbo]

Last year 508 people were murdered in Chicago. More deaths than we had in AFGANISTAN last year. Even though Chicago is the GUN CONTROL CAPITAL of America. Criminals don't care about your laws. It only makes for more unarmed sheep/victims.

[marine1]

@jamesmitchell Sorry james but fact always pisses off those with an agenda.

[thejimbo]

@jamesmitchell spell check *Afghanistan

[MadAmerican]

Activism Gap? Oh wow trying to confuse the public? You can't on this issue. People who legally own guns will fight tooth and nail to keep them and that's all the politicians need to know. Where's the next politically correct misnomer? lol

[OhWiseOne]

Very well said.

[MadAmerican]

@OhWiseOne It required little thought between the yawns.

[Zazziness]

@MadAmerican And how well did that work out for the folks at Ruby Ridge?

[MadAmerican]

@Zazziness Those people were minding their own business just like the American Indians. Wasn't no cause for the government sanctioned murders.

[Zazziness]

@MadAmerican So you admit being heavily armed really doesn't do jack against a hostile U.S. government. So why do you need them, again?

[NormalFlora]

"Enthusiastic." What a charming euphemism for "rabid, histrionic, fatuous pseudologists."

[Medicinebow]

The overwhelming majority of people, including myself, support enhanced background checks. Requiring guns to be locked if minors or the declared mentally ill reside in a home is plain common sense unless the person is directly carrying that gun. I'm sure the majority of people would support this. Penalties for using a gun unlawfully should be significantly increased.

Making me give up magazines and semiautos I believe crosses the line concerning infringement.

I believe the law abiding that have been trained and have CCW permits should be allowed to carry in "gun free" zones. These folks are not the problem.

[bambi33]

The only problem I have with your "penalties for using a gun unlawfully" suggestion - is that (like here in California) they will eventually make just holding an unloaded gun, into a crime. So it is already being used to persecute otherwise peaceable law-abiding citizens.

[Medicinebow]

@bambi33 There are some gun laws I believe should be court challenged, like magazine capacity limits. I know, it takes forever. We need uniform laws and not a patchwork of different laws that make one person a law abiding citizen and the other a criminal for doing the same exact thing. I know i'm preaching to the choir but there are methods of getting these types of laws overturned. I believe its an infringement on Ca's citizens. Folks in Ca. should enjoy the same capacity to carry concealed also. It shouldn't be reserved for the "elite" of the state. Sadly, our federal gov't is trying to go the same route. Those yelling the loudest in our gov't receive paid protection or have special considerations other don't enjoy. This creates different classes of citizens.

[ST_Louie_Sue]

Today guns, tomorrow religion, the next day freedom of speech, then freedom of food choices and on and on.....

[Medicinebow]

Move to NY and the mayor will be glad to tell you what guns and food you should have. In fact, he's legislating HIS beliefs for all NY'ers.

[marine1]

It seems like all the folks in big cities,where gun laws are a dime a dozen are more concerned about guns than those of us who live in rural areas all by ourself. I wonder why that is?

[Denizen_Kate]

@marine1 - Gee, ya don't think maybe it's because we have more criminals here in the big city? Of course, when you say "more concerned" you mean pro-control, and I guess I'm out of the main stream on that.

[marine1]

@Denizen_Kate No, I lived in a big city for 20 yrs and I think that the pace of life just kept me more un-intuned with what was going on around me. I'm not sure what it is, it just seems that the lack of personal responsibility is less demanding and by the time we finally take notice, its become a way of life and we can't go back.

[Malitia_Man]

Ummm... It's called America!!! Our country was founded on the priciples of the 2nd Admendment!!! And there are a lot more constitutionalists out there than you might think who think stricter gun laws only keep the guns out of the law abiding citizens hands, not the criminals!!!

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/5...

[marine1]

These people are of the same mindset that pushed prohibition and you see how that worked out for everyone. Oh yeh,same O same O for drugs and we really have a good handle on that. Wow golly gee, who woulda thunk?

[Raptor]

Money and propaganda on the part of the NRA= Spin

The big blue meanies are coming to take our guns away, they cried!

[artjeb]

Money & propaganda on the part of liberal faction = SPIN

[Denizen_Kate]

The Blue Meanies! I remember those ... that makes me kinda old, huh? ;)

[Hireman]

When you try to infringe on rights, people get motivated, and are typically more motivated than those trying to take them away.

[stephen]

people knows obama is a soicalist.

[woodtick57]

No, but people know parroted media sound bytes when they hear them...and it's pretty easy to tell those that parrot them without inderstanding them....

[bambi33]

Name one socialist country that tolerates private gun ownership.

[stephen]

@bambi33 north korea

[stephen]

@Denizen_Kate he trying to us gun control . to become a dictator.

[Dan_Tien]

I think that the lack of enthusiasm among those people who are sympathetic to gun control is due to a lack of belief in the effectiveness of any of the proposed solutions.

[RobertJHarsh]

activism gap = cadres

[DARSB]

Easily excitable gun owners - what could possibly go wrong?

[woodtick57]

And easily misguided about the facts. Just ripe for disaster, as we have seen....

[Medicinebow]

Yeah, gun owners should just roll over and accept whatever others dictate. What could possibly happen to their rights?

[Vance1]

gun control legislation isnt about controling guns, its about controling we the people.
Its always the first step toward Communism.
Dis arm the people first, make them needy sheep to the Gov.
Thats has always been a Liberals dream!

[Grubby]

I agree. This is all about Obama's dream to emulate Adolf Hitler. We are taking all the steps of Nazi Germany from the late 1930's. Next step - disarm the public. He has already got some stupid rule in education that says high school students must read his Executive Orders. Grade school children chanting Mmmm, Mmmm, Barack Hussein Obama. Next up is blanket amnesty for "his new supporters" the border crossers. Talk of reparations for Black Americans. Where do you think this is headed people? Obama has created a Cult following who deify him. This has a scary ending.

[Vance1]

@Grubby
Thanks, You get it