Posted on 05/02/2009 3:08:25 PM PDT by JoeProBono
Public opinion on gun control and abortion has swayed conservative since a decade ago, particularly in the past year, despite–and possibly in response to–the recent election of the second Democratic president in three decades.
A Pew Research Center report published Thursday detailed the trends among Americans, with the greatest changes in the opinions of men.
Overall, protection of gun owners' rights increased in the past decade, rising from just 30 percent in May of 1999 to 45 percent in April of 2009. Only 49 percent of those recently surveyed support measures to control gun ownership, compared to a 65 percent majority in 1999.
The report notes that this is "the first time in a Pew Research survey [that] nearly as many people believe it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns than to control gun ownership."
In the past year alone, support among men to protect gun owners' rights increased by 11 percent, from 46 to 57 percent. Although women still favor gun control, support dropped from 64 percent to 60 percent since April 2008.
Public opinion on abortion has practically leveled, with the least discrepancy overall since 2001 and by far the lowest support of legality comparing data as far back as 1995, demonstrating a sharp conservative change in opinion compared to more liberal historical data.
Only 46 percent of recent survey respondents agreed that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with 44 percent having stated the contrary. The gap has been typically at least 10 percent or more throughout the past decade and a half. Overall support of the legality of abortion has dropped 8 percent since August 2008, alone.
The greatest change in support of abortion was among men, dropping from 53 to only 43 percent. Although still a conservative change in opinion, support among women only dropped 5 percent, from 54 to 49 percent
The rising tide that will flush out the usurper in chief.
I thought these were wedge issues that we need to stay quiet about?
No chit! There are even Freepers admonishing that the GOP should stop bother with these “divisive issues” and become a low-taxes party only.
If we continue to stay on these wedge issues we will never win again.
“Public opinion on gun control and abortion has swayed conservative since a decade ago.”
Nice to read something encouraging.
Real men. :)
It’s such bullsh*t. We have all these “intellectuals” saying the GOP has become too “religious”, that they should stop pandering to “Jesus Freaks.” I know a hell of a lot more people who voted for Obama despite the fact that he’s pro-abortion and pro-gay favoritism- not because of it. I think McCain didn’t do enough to point out Obama’s atrocious abortion record. Abortion was hardly mentioned during the campaign. No one mentioned Obama’s support for infanticide. If there had been MORE focus on these wedge issues, it may have been closer.
Encouraging indeed. Result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people. Thank you to all of them!
“More American Men Support Gun Ownership, Oppose Abortion”
Liberal Slant: more american males are using armed force to make women have more babies for them.
Conservative Slant: More men are ready to defend their lives, their families’ lives, and the lives of the unborn.
I think the Republican party, with some exceptions, has blown it when it comes to gun rights. How many blue dog democrats got elected to the house because they publicly supported the 2nd ammendment and got NRA endorsements? When Republicans were in power they were lukewarm at best on the issue.
In many cases, they’ve allowed the dems to steal one issue that should be a sure winner for them. Most of the population that supports gun control lives in the inner city of places like Chicago, L.A., Boston etc...places where no Republican will be elected anyway.
Really, Republicans need to stop being the stupid party and at least stand for something.
You forgot the sarcasm tag.
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