Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Most Americans back gun lobby, right to use deadly force
reuters.com ^ | 13 April, 2012 | Deborah Charles

Posted on 04/13/2012 10:43:54 AM PDT by marktwain

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most Americans support the right to use deadly force to protect themselves - even in public places - and have a favorable view of the National Rifle Association, the main gun-lobby group, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

However, there was also strong support from respondents for background checks as well as limiting the sale of automatic weapons and keeping guns out of churches, stores and workplaces.

The online survey showed that 68 percent, or two out of three respondents, had a favorable opinion of the NRA, which starts its annual convention in St. Louis, Missouri, on Friday.

Eighty-two percent of Republicans saw the gun lobbying group in a positive light as well as 55 percent of Democrats, findings that run counter to the perception of Democrats as anti-NRA.

Most of the 1,922 people surveyed nationwide from April Monday through Thursday said they supported laws that allow Americans to use deadly force to protect themselves from danger in their own home or in a public place.

"Americans do hold to this idea that people should be allowed to defend themselves and using deadly force is fine, in those circumstances," said pollster Chris Jackson. "In the theoretical ... there's a certain tolerance of vigilantism."

The poll was conducted amid a nationwide debate over gun rights and race after the Florida shooting of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood crime watch volunteer who is white and Hispanic.

The poll results were welcomed by the NRA, which is one of the most powerful lobby groups in the country and regularly clashes with anti-gun groups and often with Democrats as it seeks to protect and expand gun rights across the United States.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: armedcitizen; banglist; blackkk; castledoctrine; constitution; defense; florida; georgezimmerman; nra; trayvon; trayvonmartin; zimmerman
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last
It is not surprising that most people believe that they have a right to defend themselves.
1 posted on 04/13/2012 10:44:05 AM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marktwain
as limiting the sale of automatic weapons and keeping guns out of churches, stores and workplaces

Gee I wonder how the poll was phrased, especially since 1986 the ability to purchase automatic weapons has pretty much dried up and is confined to existing supply prior to 1986 thank you Ronnie Reagan.

2 posted on 04/13/2012 10:47:41 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Compare this to England, where it seems to be a crime to protect yourself with any kind of force at all (judging from everything I’ve read over the years).


3 posted on 04/13/2012 10:48:03 AM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

That’s right libs get used to it and we are not going away.


4 posted on 04/13/2012 10:48:16 AM PDT by DarthVader (Politicians govern out of self interest, Statesmen govern for a Vision greater than themselves)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

People support the restriction of automatic weapons because people do not understand the purpose of the Second Amendment. Many who support those restrictions also do not understand that one can purchase automatic weapons with the proper paperwork and lots of money.

I, for one, would like to see a return to common sense and the deregulation of silencers. They’re required on firearms in Europe, but they’re restricted in America. Absolutely stupid.


5 posted on 04/13/2012 10:50:10 AM PDT by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
It is not surprising that most people believe that they have a right to defend themselves.

No, but it is surprising to see Reuters report it.

6 posted on 04/13/2012 10:51:50 AM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (To the left the truth looks Right-Wing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

7 posted on 04/13/2012 10:54:16 AM PDT by PLD (what is the difference between the Black Panthers and the KKK..Nothing I can see..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
Most Americans back gun lobby, right to use deadly force

Which is why when Al Sharpton, the Brady crew and the rest of the far left start screaming for tougher gun laws and repeal of "stand your ground" Obama, Pelosi, Reid and the rest of the democrat leadership aren't saying a word, but putting on a forced smile while whispering toward the gun grabber, "Shut up! Your going to ruin it for us. Just wait until after the election, then we can be as anti-gun as you want, but until then we don't want to touch it with a ten foot poll."

8 posted on 04/13/2012 10:57:40 AM PDT by apillar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Notice how they employed the pejorative scare phrase “gun lobby”.


9 posted on 04/13/2012 11:02:58 AM PDT by Carl LaFong (Experts say experts should be ignored.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

From the aritcle — “...there’s a certain tolerance of vigilantism.”

Nope, not too biased there


10 posted on 04/13/2012 11:08:07 AM PDT by Londo Molari
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

“Americans do hold to this idea that people should be allowed to defend themselves and using deadly force is fine, in those circumstances,” said pollster Chris Jackson. “In the theoretical ... there’s a certain tolerance of vigilantism.”

Vigilantism is going about searching for trouble that is Not self defence.

Self defence is allowed when your going about your business and some animal decides he’s going to attack you,In most states with deadly force.


11 posted on 04/13/2012 11:14:05 AM PDT by puppypusher (The World is going to the dogs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: from occupied ga

I wonder if the journalists mean the same thing by ‘automatic’ as we do..?

To them a magazine fed semi auto black rifle with a pistol grip and muzzle device is ‘automatic’.


12 posted on 04/13/2012 11:21:14 AM PDT by RitchieAprile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Somebody should tell this giuy from the NYDN This:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/trayvon-martin-shooting-shame-nra-newest-poster-child-george-zimmerman-article-1.1061033


13 posted on 04/13/2012 11:32:02 AM PDT by Mr. C (Take Back America!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
said pollster Chris Jackson. "In the theoretical ... there's a certain tolerance of vigilantism.

Did you all catch how the leftist spun that? Vigilantism ≠ Defending-your-child-from-a-killer.

14 posted on 04/13/2012 11:39:44 AM PDT by Clock King (Ellisworth Toohey was right: My head's gonna explode.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: puppypusher
Vigilantism is going about searching for trouble that is Not self defence.

Vigilantism emerges when existing law enforcement fails to provide a suitable deterrent to crime.

15 posted on 04/13/2012 11:57:33 AM PDT by thethirddegree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: RitchieAprile
I wonder if the journalists mean the same thing by ‘automatic’ as we do..?

Probably not. Anything with a black stock and detachable magazine is an "automatic weapon" to the anti-gun media.

16 posted on 04/13/2012 11:59:42 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Americans LOVE vigilatism.

As I have told many who came to this country as immigrants,
“The longer you live and work with Americans, the more you will come to realize that deep down, we are all cowboys at some level. Give me a horse, give me a rope, give me a gun, and I’ll go do it my damn self!”

Charles Bronson did not become a major star on his good looks and acting talent after all.

Obama takes this on to his peril.


17 posted on 04/13/2012 12:24:00 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RitchieAprile

What the lefty media calls “assault weapons” are
semi-automatic rifles to the rest of us.


18 posted on 04/13/2012 12:31:07 PM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (The TEA Party is my cup of tea.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: july4thfreedomfoundation

The Japanese officers used swords during their banzai charges in WW2 so technically a sword is also an “assault” weapon.


19 posted on 04/13/2012 12:38:45 PM PDT by USAF80
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

I just wish weapons and ammo didn’t cost so damn much! I hope the government doesn’t have extra taxes attached to weapons; if so shouldn’t that be illegal?


20 posted on 04/13/2012 12:48:40 PM PDT by New Jersey Realist (America: home of the free because of the brave)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson