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Advanced age of gun rights opponents consistent with demographic shift
D.C. Gun Rights Examiner ^ | 10 February, 2013 | Mike Stollenwerk

Posted on 02/10/2013 4:26:35 PM PST by marktwain

Ever notice something about the leading political opponents of gun rights? Hint: They are really, really old.

Examples: Senator Dianne Feinstein (D - CA), 79. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D - DC), 75. Vice President Joe Biden (D), 70. Mayor Mike Bloomberg (R - NYC), 70. Representative Jim Moran (D - Alexandria), 67.

These political activists have been pushing their anti-gun rights agenda before most Americans were born. But over the last century, American’s views on gun rights have dramatically changed.

"Historically, large majorities of Americans favoured [British English] stronger gun laws, way back to the 1930s," said Robert Spitzer, author of the Politics of Gun Control and chair of the political science department at State University of New York College at Cortland. "But visibly in the last decade public opinion has shifted toward being more sympathetic toward the gun rights position."

While its possible that individual Americans’ views on gun rights may have changed over time, a more likely explanation is that newer generations of Americans just support gun rights by higher margins than their predecessors. The latter conclusion is supported by a 2012 American University study conducted by American University professor Jennifer L. Lawless and Loyola Marymount professor Richard L. Fox which focused on the political opinions of young Americans.

Gallup reported in 2011 that “[f]orty-seven percent of American adults currently report that they have a gun in their home or elsewhere on their property. This is up from 41% a year ago and is the highest Gallup has recorded since 1993.” And now the American University study finds that an even higher percentage of younger Americans - 60% of both high school and college students - "plan on owning guns at a later stage in life.”

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: banglist; constitution; demographics; guncontrol; secondamendment; sunycortland
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

They always leave out such-and-such to “not be affected”, so as to make it appear to those who don’t think things through, that they’re being “reasonable”. But-first, they have no right to infringe the 2A in any way, even so far as they already have. Second, they never stop coming back to mop up things they left out before. That’s how the left gets their whole agenda implemented, and I don’t understand how after all this time, people aren’t wise to it. How do they think the left has come to own academia, the media, and now are infiltrating the Christian church and the military?


21 posted on 02/10/2013 5:59:22 PM PST by mrsmel (One Who Can See)
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To: marktwain

But the Hispanic tidal wave is likely to change this. Polling indicates that Hispanics ar more likely to favor gun control.


22 posted on 02/10/2013 6:01:12 PM PST by River Hawk
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To: marktwain

I am nearing 69 and I am at the opposite end of the spectrum from Feinstein. She is not actually anti-gun anyway, she is simply against gun rights for the non-elite. She certainly thinks that she and her friends should have all the gun rights imaginable. The rest are the same way. Put some of these fools out in the middle of Detroit at midnight and tell them they can have either a handgun or a lollipop and see which they choose. You will find out just how anti-gun they REALLY are. Or just ask them how much money it would take to get them to put a sign on their own front lawn saying in four inch letters that their home is a “gun free zone”.


23 posted on 02/10/2013 6:15:20 PM PST by RipSawyer (I was born on Earth, what planet is this?)
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To: marktwain

Wow, looks like we’re running out of time to get them in front of a Death Panel.

My favorite Death Panel (for Liberals) involves four Marksmen, one of them shooting a Blank Cartridge.


24 posted on 02/10/2013 6:17:50 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (I only Fear a Government that doesn't Fear me.)
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To: marktwain

bkmk


25 posted on 02/10/2013 6:23:31 PM PST by Sergio (An object at rest cannot be stopped! - The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

The only thing certain about the young is that they will rebel and this is possibly the only thing preventing the extinction of mankind. In the current environment the things they will be rebelling against are the things that are currently in vogue such as gay marriage, anti-gun hysteria, sexual abandon, etc. if the human race survives things may be far different from what we suspect fifty years from now. Of course I don’t expect to be here to see it.


26 posted on 02/10/2013 6:24:28 PM PST by RipSawyer (I was born on Earth, what planet is this?)
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To: marktwain

I’m one of the older group, but I well remember my Dad taking all of us kids and cousins out to shoot bottles and cans off of logs while my Mom and the Aunts made Thanksgiving dinner. First and foremost, before anything else, came the lesson on gun safety. Both my husband and eldest daughter are nationally rated competitive Army, high school and collegiate shooters. I’m no marksman myself, but I consistently hit my target with my pistol. However, we haven’t been able to get our grandkids interested. Yet.


27 posted on 02/10/2013 6:26:05 PM PST by ArmyTeach ( Videteco eos prius (See 'em first) Sculpin 191)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

We remember episode after episode like that, and Lefties still proclaim “there is no slippery slope - you need to COMPROMISE!”

To heck with that. We need to do some rolling back in many parts of the country.


28 posted on 02/10/2013 6:29:16 PM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Vince Ferrer; All

“Anyone 50 and under these days grew up playing video games.”

Another possibility from video games, the necessity of looking ahead and plotting a strategy that avoids paths to certain loss.

I could see where this would allow younger people to see the further out results of the slippery slope.


29 posted on 02/10/2013 7:21:17 PM PST by marktwain (The MSM must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks marktwain.
These political activists have been pushing their anti-gun rights agenda before most Americans were born.
This is due to the fact that there are a LOT of urban dwellers who are armed and don't talk about it. Safe deposit boxes in my old neighborhood were often rented for short periods to lock up firearms while the family was out of town.


30 posted on 02/10/2013 7:42:21 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: marktwain

I believe this is due to a lot of us boomers teaching our children and their friends about the responsible use of firearms. I have taught hunter education for years. The kids really step up to taking responsibility when given the chance.


31 posted on 02/10/2013 8:23:37 PM PST by wjcsux ("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell)
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To: marktwain

I believe this is due to a lot of us boomers teaching our children and their friends about the responsible use of firearms. I have taught hunter education for years. The kids really step up to taking responsibility when given the chance.


32 posted on 02/10/2013 8:23:57 PM PST by wjcsux ("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell)
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To: marktwain
I'm taking my daughter and two of her friends shooting for her sweet sixteen celebration next week. We're taking the 1911 and the Alaskan (she's a big fan of .45s). I think they're looking forward to it more than I am.

:^)

33 posted on 02/10/2013 8:51:51 PM PST by Disambiguator
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To: Hang'emAll; Vince Ferrer

“I believe the shift is due to all the 3D video games that young people play. They’ve been shooting guns electronically since they were little and would like to try it for real.”

You and Vince Ferrer posted essentially the same thought. I really don’t think that’s it. I think younger Americans just realize, in larger %ages than older generations, that the police are not going to show up in time to help and that they are not primarily interested in our interest. They may even be afraid of an increasingly militarized police.


34 posted on 02/10/2013 9:01:43 PM PST by No.6 (www.fourthfightergroup.com)
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To: Alaska Wolf

67 years out of 77 is advanced when you consider that 77 is an average. Sorry but you can reasonably expect to die between the ages of 67 and 87. Some will make it to or a little past 87 just as some wont make it to or much past 67.

Look at this way: 67 / 77= 87%. At 67 you are on average 87% of the way to dead. That sounds advanced to me.


35 posted on 02/10/2013 10:02:38 PM PST by FreedomNotSafety
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To: FreedomNotSafety

I’m 65 so I am in the same boat.

If you were driving your car you would be looking for a gas station at 87% gone.


36 posted on 02/11/2013 3:44:52 AM PST by Hang'emAll (If guns kill people do pencils make spelling errors.)
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