PrintMarch 27, 2008
Poll: 73% believe Americans have gun ownership right
When it comes to the Constitution and guns, even those who do not own a firearm come down on the side of a broad interpretation of the 2nd Amendment:
The often fierce debate over the Second Amendment has centered on whether it was intended to protect the rights of all Americans to own guns, or only those who are members of state militia groups.Seventy three percent of Americans believe that the 2nd Amendment gives them the right to own a firearm with only 20% against. The number goes up to a whopping 91% who believe in a right to own guns among gun owners themselves.
The poll makes it clear which side Americans come down on. Gun owners (roughly one-third of the U.S. adult population) are nearly universal in endorsing the view that the Second Amendment guarantees their right to own guns. Non-owners are less likely to view the amendment this way, but a majority still do.
While the American public backs the view that gun ownership is a constitutional right, Americans favor having legal restrictions on it. In the same poll, 49% favor stricter gun laws than exist now and 38% would like to see gun laws remain as they are. Just 11% advocate gun laws that are less strict.
I wonder how many of those 49% who believe in more regulation are aware of how strict the laws are already? Just because the authorities refuse to enforce the gun laws already on the books doesn't mean that there is a dearth of regulation. I imagine the numbers favoring less regulation and those who think we have enough regulation would both go up if it was widely known how draconian much of our current regulation truly is.
