American Voters Overwhelmingly Agree with Justice Department: Individuals Have Right to Bear Arms

Zogby International | June 5, 2002 | Zogby International

[Dave S]

American Voters Overwhelmingly Agree with Justice Department: Individuals Have Right to Bear Arms

A wide majority of American voters (75%) agree with the Justice Department’s position that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. Just over a fifth (22%) disagree with the Justice Department, while 4% are unsure.

This result follows a Supreme Court brief filed in early May in which the Justice Department stated its interpretation of the Second Amendment that individuals have the right to bear arms. Since 1973, the department has argued that the Second Amendment protects only gun ownership by state militias, not individuals.

Zogby International interviewed 1,015 likely voters chosen at random nationwide on behalf of the Second Amendment Foundation, an educational and legal defense organization that works to protect the civil rights of firearms owners. All calls were made from Zogby International headquarters in Utica, New York, from Tuesday, May 28 to Thursday, May 30, 2002. The survey has a margin of sampling error of +/- 3.2%.

Republicans (84%) were most likely to agree with the Justice Department’s position. Residents of the South and the Central/ Great Lakes, and West (79% average) as well as respondents 18-24 years old (82%) were also more likely to agree. Majorities of Democrats (65%), Easterners (60%), respondents earning $75,000+ annually (70%) and those 65 years or older (65%) also agreed with the Justice Department.

“Even among Democrats, senior citizens and the middle class, large majorities do not accept the so-called ‘collective right’ theory promoted by the most ardent gun grabbers,” says Alan Gottlieb, founderof the Second Amendment Foundation. “This poll indicates that anti-gunners are not even in-step with their traditional core groups.”

For more information on the Second Amendment Foundation, look online at http://www.saf.org/

Zogby International (www.zogby.com) - A leader for over 16 years in the field of public opinion research and world-renowned for offering superior polling, market research and information services based on accuracy and detailed strategic information.

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[Dave S]

For thoe of you that say that John Zogby is biased in his poling and is an out and out liberal, read this. He agrees that most Americans, even Dems agree that the Constitution gives individual Americans the right to keep and bear arms, not just militias.

[AAABEST]

Bang.

I thought you guys might want to ping around some good news for a change.

[TomGuy]

American voters (75%) agree with the Justice Department’s position that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individuals to keep and bear arms

That sure makes the PC-liberals cringe. Even Ms. Brady is sort of defending the right to own guns now--she bought one "for her son" for Christmas.

[Gophack]

Bang, bang GREAT news.

[dead]

respondents 18-24 years old (82%) were also more likely to agree

The relentless anti-gun indoctrination campaign in the public schools apparently hasn’t found fertile ground.

Yet.

[gwmoore]

As much as I usually dislike Zogby, I have to admit he's on the right track with this one!!

It is ALWAYS nice to take one from the PC liberal mindset and have it come out in our favor ;-)

Keep the Faith for Freedom

Greg

[eureka!]

No wonder the 'Rats have been scrambling to get rid of their anti-gun platform. Good luck after the MMM and all their efforts...

[Pearls Before Swine]

What do non-voting and unpolled criminals think?

[Jagdgewehr]

Its one thing to assert that the 2nd amendment applies to individuals rather than believing in the collective interpretation, but a majority of Americans still believe in the passage of more "gun control" laws.

If this majority of Americans don't pull their heads out of their as*es and see the incremental effect of the continuing passage of such laws, this poll means doodly-squat.

What the public thinks about the U.S. Constitution usually has no bearing on what the pols do in their zeal to pass more restrictive gun laws.

One day we may wake up to the gun-grabbers knocking at our door to sieze our firearms.

[FreedomPoster]

The relentless anti-gun indoctrination campaign in the public schools apparently hasn’t found fertile ground.

Kids are amazingly good at detecting huge steaming heaps of Bravo Sierra.

My son prefers the FAL, but doesn't mind range time with the Mini, or a borrowed AK or SKS. Even the 10-22 will do. ;-)

[AAABEST]

One day we may wake up to the gun-grabbers knocking at our door to sieze our firearms.

"Hi there Mr. Gun Grabber, meet BORIS."

[Billthedrill]

Majorities of Democrats (65%), Easterners (60%), respondents earning $75,000+ annually (70%) and those 65 years or older (65%) also agreed with the Justice Department.

My gracious, there sure do seem to be a lot of "extremists" out there...

[billhilly]

Dave, John Zogby is neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He is simply revealing the results of his poll.

[Jagdgewehr]

That's the American Spirit!

[Dave S]

Dave, John Zogby is neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He is simply revealing the results of his poll.

And I'm merely pointing out that unlike all the claims to the contrary, he didnt manipulate this poll or falsify its findings to be consistent with his own beliefs. Many automatically assume Zogby polling cant be trusted because he is a Democrat. Then they are amazed that his polling tends to be the most accurate predictor in presidential elections.

[supercat]

Its one thing to assert that the 2nd amendment applies to individuals rather than believing in the collective interpretation, but a majority of Americans still believe in the passage of more "gun control" laws.

Sort of. Most Americans want more gun controls than they think already exist. When informed of all the statutes and regulations already in place, most of those who had favored 'more' gun control instead indicate that the controls already in place are adequate.

[backhoe]

It's welcome news- bearing in mind that I live in the Deep South, even most Democrats around here are very pro-RKBA.

[Poohbah]

Part of the problem is that the press tells them that you can go to a gun show and buy a tactical nuclear weapon with no background check because of the EE-VIL National Rifle Association.

[M Kehoe]

One day we may wake up to the gun-grabbers knocking at our door to sieze our firearms.

If come to pass, which I doubt, this would be a sad but glorious day.

5.56mm

[AAABEST]

Part of the problem is that the press tells them that you can go to a gun show and buy a tactical nuclear weapon with no background check because of the EE-VIL National Rifle Association.

I love these 2a threads. We're all on the same side again like before the GWB wars started.