Declining gun ownership in USA?

[cvc944]

To me, the four comments after my last post represent common sense. Actual common sense. It's not my business to know what any of you own, and it's nobody's business to ask you and then let me know what you own. Polls are not the best thing for America. Making a decision on your own, letting your core beliefs guide you without looking to others to see what they are saying or thinking is good for America. At least that is what I say to people who are taking polls that could be used to further divide our nation. And of course, then it is only common sense that casts any doubt on the 90% favorable number for UBCs, a number just too high to go unquestioned.

 

[gc70]

This does not seem likely to me -- does anybody have any data?

The inconsistency in results of gun ownership surveys is a recognized problem. Those inconsistencies and their possible causes are addressed well in two recent Wall Street Journal articles (#1 and #2).

One observation from the first article caught my attention and underscores how difficult it is to really nail down the results of polls.

Who answers the phone in the household could affect responses. “We know that in a survey where respondents are randomly selected from adults in the household, a household headed by a married couple is substantially more likely to report guns in the home if the husband is selected than if the wife is selected,” said Philip Cook, an economist and gun-violence researcher at Duke University.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Cousin Pat
Declining gun ownership in USA?
Reuters is saying the following today:

"Demographic trends are working against the NRA as well. Fewer than one-third of U.S. households owned guns in 2011, down from 54 percent in 1977, according to the University of Chicago's General Social Survey."

This does not seem likely to me -- does anybody have any data?

Caller - "Good evening Sir/Madam - I am conducting a survey on gun-ownership in the United States for Reuter's News."

Homeowner - "Um, yeah, ok."

Caller - "Are you a current gun-owner?"

Homeowner - <thoughts racing through mind... Did I have to register it?, What if my kid's school find out?", "Could this impact my job?"...etc...etc...etc...">.......<back to call> "Er, no. No, I am NOT a gun-owner <click>.


WE are the silent majority, and gawd help the politicians when we get really tick'd and toss 'em out onto the streets. Why else didn't UBC come out for a vote???? Eh???

 

[Glocknload]

I don't believe a word of it. I just got back from the range, AGC in balt. co. maryland and the range was packed.

Not only that, the media is nothing but a propaganda tool of the government. They figure that if they say something often enough, people will believe it. For example, '90% of the general population wants stricter gun control." total BS.

 

[Nathan]

It has been alluded to earlier. I think s much higher percentage of gun owners would have said yes, or agreed to participate in 1977. No way I'm telling a person who calls, stops by or stops me on the street that I have guns in my house.

In a go to a link and check yes or no, I would probably vote yes. So here you have the mechanics of making data!

 

[Evan Thomas]

There's another thread, here, on the question of the accuracy of poll data and how we'd answer such questions. Feel free to take discussion of those issues there.

Otherwise, we don't need to go on about whether the middle class is brainwashed, media conspiracies, etc. None of this reflects well on us as gun owners.