I was driving to work this morning here in Dallas and during a short news segment on a local radio station it was mentioned that a recent poll in Texas revealed that 70% of the respondents were for registration of handguns and were for a purchase limit of one gun a month. I didn't catch what organization conducted the poll or any other details. Anyone else hear about this? I found it difficult to believe.
Latest Texas Poll Bad News for Gun Owners?
- Thread starter Greg G
- Start date
Glenn E. Meyer
New member
One thing about these polls is that they do not ask a full set of questions when the poll is pop or politically motivated.
What you get from real in-depth polls is that the majority of the public is for gun registration and purchase limits for example.
However, if you ask the same group if they support the right of folks to OWN guns, they say YES overwhelmingly.
The average person sees registration as a way of keeping guns from criminals and not hindering them owning a gun themselves.
So, whenever you see a poll, keep this in mind.
That registration will lead to confiscation is not asked or proposed.
What you get from real in-depth polls is that the majority of the public is for gun registration and purchase limits for example.
However, if you ask the same group if they support the right of folks to OWN guns, they say YES overwhelmingly.
The average person sees registration as a way of keeping guns from criminals and not hindering them owning a gun themselves.
So, whenever you see a poll, keep this in mind.
That registration will lead to confiscation is not asked or proposed.
Caller #1 (phone rings)
Mr. Gun Owner: Hello?
Pollster: (blah blah blah) Do you own a handgun?
Mr. Gun Owner: Why, yes, I do!
Pollster: Thank you for your time. (hang up)
Caller #2 (phone rings)
Mr. Sheeple: Hello?
Pollster: (blah blah blah) Do you own a handgun?
Mr. Sheeple: (quivering voice) Oh NO! I wouldn’t have one in the house!
Pollster: Would registration of handguns be a danger or threat to your family?
Mr. Sheeple: Gee, I don’t know. I guess not!
Pollster: Thank you for your time. (hang up)
=========
A recent poll proves that Texans are 100% in favor of handgun registration.
------
[sarcasm]
Right. And we don’t eat beef and we don’t drink Shiner Bock.
[/sarcasm]
Sez I, “Excuse me, mister, but y’all are standin’ right where I’m fixin’ t’ spit!”
[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited June 30, 2000).]
Mr. Gun Owner: Hello?
Pollster: (blah blah blah) Do you own a handgun?
Mr. Gun Owner: Why, yes, I do!
Pollster: Thank you for your time. (hang up)
Caller #2 (phone rings)
Mr. Sheeple: Hello?
Pollster: (blah blah blah) Do you own a handgun?
Mr. Sheeple: (quivering voice) Oh NO! I wouldn’t have one in the house!
Pollster: Would registration of handguns be a danger or threat to your family?
Mr. Sheeple: Gee, I don’t know. I guess not!
Pollster: Thank you for your time. (hang up)
=========
A recent poll proves that Texans are 100% in favor of handgun registration.
------
[sarcasm]
Right. And we don’t eat beef and we don’t drink Shiner Bock.
[/sarcasm]
Sez I, “Excuse me, mister, but y’all are standin’ right where I’m fixin’ t’ spit!”
[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited June 30, 2000).]
That was the impression I had when I heard it. I wish I had heard the name of the organization that conducted the poll but I don't consider it important enough to call the radio station.This crock of a topic was on the FRONT PAGE of the Houston Chronicle today. I'm disgusted with it obviously but i know right off the bat that this survey is a load of garbage.
Anyone could easily manipulate a poll to conclude that killing small children in schools is good for the environment. Polls mean nothing. These polls are nothing more than an actual test ragarding the level of our populace's ignorance.
A real poll would first educate the respondants then ask pertinent questions.
CMOS
------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!
The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
Anyone could easily manipulate a poll to conclude that killing small children in schools is good for the environment. Polls mean nothing. These polls are nothing more than an actual test ragarding the level of our populace's ignorance.
A real poll would first educate the respondants then ask pertinent questions.
CMOS
------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!
The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
Glenn E. Meyer
New member
Just read the article. Look at the last paragraph.
"Texans continue to show strong support for a law allowing private citizens to carry concealed
weapons. Sixty-two percent said they favor the law, including 77 percent among gun owners.
Thirty-one percent oppose the right to carry a concealed handgun."
That makes my point.
Antis will read a poll that say that TX favors registration as an indication that they want stricter gun control and that means NO GUNS.
But the bottom line is that TX strongly favor having guns for self-protection. The registration issue is bogus if you portray it as an indicator that guns should be eliminated.
That's what antis want - NO GUNS.
If the question was asked - should guns be confiscated and/or should they be registered such that they could be confiscated when the government wants - you would get different results.
By the way, pollsters know all this and polls that are generated like this are for political purpose. Research polls do much more indepth analyses.
I've seen samples where 90% favor registration but support the RKBA and half of them want to buy a handgun.
It is the misuse of "registration" to imply confiscation and banning that is really dishonest hear.
"Texans continue to show strong support for a law allowing private citizens to carry concealed
weapons. Sixty-two percent said they favor the law, including 77 percent among gun owners.
Thirty-one percent oppose the right to carry a concealed handgun."
That makes my point.
Antis will read a poll that say that TX favors registration as an indication that they want stricter gun control and that means NO GUNS.
But the bottom line is that TX strongly favor having guns for self-protection. The registration issue is bogus if you portray it as an indicator that guns should be eliminated.
That's what antis want - NO GUNS.
If the question was asked - should guns be confiscated and/or should they be registered such that they could be confiscated when the government wants - you would get different results.
By the way, pollsters know all this and polls that are generated like this are for political purpose. Research polls do much more indepth analyses.
I've seen samples where 90% favor registration but support the RKBA and half of them want to buy a handgun.
It is the misuse of "registration" to imply confiscation and banning that is really dishonest hear.
PLUS, this came out of Austin, a little Kalifornia enclave in Texas.
Here's the Chronicle's article. Their Letters
address is: viewpoints@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/page1/591546
Texas gun owners favor curbs, poll shows
Surprising majority backs one-a-month sales limit
By POLLY ROSS HUGHES
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN -- A surprising majority of Texas gun owners support laws limiting handgun sales to one a month, mandatory trigger locks and gun registration, according to the latest Scripps Howard Texas Poll.
The poll results show that while Texans might have a reputation as gun toters on the wild frontier, they strongly favor various gun control limits.
"I think it shows Texans are ready for some reasonable restrictions to keep guns out of the hands of kids and criminals," said Travis County Constable Bruce Elfant, a vocal proponent of gun responsibility.
While Texans are more likely to regard the National Rifle Association favorably than otherwise -- 46 percent versus 25 percent -- they do not share many of the NRA's stands opposing stricter gun controls, the poll shows.
"I kind of figured Texas would be a little bit different from the nation as a whole because of our culture down here. I think that's what surprises me a little bit," said Randy Gibson, executive director of the Texas State Rifle Association, an affiliate of the NRA.
Sixty-three percent of Texans polled, and 52 percent of Texas gun owners, said they favor a law to limit the number of handguns an individual can purchase to one a month.
Three out of four Texans said they favor registration of all handguns, while 66 percent of gun owners said they favor registration.
A nearly equal number of Texans, 74 percent, said they favor a law to require mandatory, built-in trigger locks for all guns sold in the United States. Of gun owners, 63 percent support mandatory locks.
Meanwhile, 46 percent of Texans say they favor increasing restrictions on gun sales with 13 percent saying they should be decreased and 35 percent saying they should remain the same.
Among gun owners, a slimmer 33 percent favor increased limits on gun sales, 15 percent want a decrease in restrictions and 47 percent said they should remain the same.
The Scripps Howard Data Center poll of 1,000 adult Texans, surveyed by telephone from May 22 to June 16, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Some poll results left both sides of the gun debate doubtful, such as a finding that half of Texans polled said they did not own a gun nor does anyone else in their household.
"I would kind of look real closely at the margin of error and the methodology, especially on that question," Gibson said. "I think people are real guarded about who they let know they have firearms and how many firearms they have."
Another surprise for Gibson was that the poll showed gun ownership in Texas has dropped from 55 percent last November to 48 percent now.
Texans, aged 50 to 59, are the most likely to own guns -- 59 percent -- and 58 percent of Anglos own guns versus only 23 percent of Hispanics and 28 percent of blacks. East Texans are most likely to live in households with guns -- 59 percent -- while South Texans are least likely, 40 percent.
Texans continue to show strong support for a law allowing private citizens to carry concealed weapons. Sixty-two percent said they favor the law, including 77 percent among gun owners. Thirty-one percent oppose the right to carry a concealed handgun.
Here's the Chronicle's article. Their Letters
address is: viewpoints@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/page1/591546
Texas gun owners favor curbs, poll shows
Surprising majority backs one-a-month sales limit
By POLLY ROSS HUGHES
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN -- A surprising majority of Texas gun owners support laws limiting handgun sales to one a month, mandatory trigger locks and gun registration, according to the latest Scripps Howard Texas Poll.
The poll results show that while Texans might have a reputation as gun toters on the wild frontier, they strongly favor various gun control limits.
"I think it shows Texans are ready for some reasonable restrictions to keep guns out of the hands of kids and criminals," said Travis County Constable Bruce Elfant, a vocal proponent of gun responsibility.
While Texans are more likely to regard the National Rifle Association favorably than otherwise -- 46 percent versus 25 percent -- they do not share many of the NRA's stands opposing stricter gun controls, the poll shows.
"I kind of figured Texas would be a little bit different from the nation as a whole because of our culture down here. I think that's what surprises me a little bit," said Randy Gibson, executive director of the Texas State Rifle Association, an affiliate of the NRA.
Sixty-three percent of Texans polled, and 52 percent of Texas gun owners, said they favor a law to limit the number of handguns an individual can purchase to one a month.
Three out of four Texans said they favor registration of all handguns, while 66 percent of gun owners said they favor registration.
A nearly equal number of Texans, 74 percent, said they favor a law to require mandatory, built-in trigger locks for all guns sold in the United States. Of gun owners, 63 percent support mandatory locks.
Meanwhile, 46 percent of Texans say they favor increasing restrictions on gun sales with 13 percent saying they should be decreased and 35 percent saying they should remain the same.
Among gun owners, a slimmer 33 percent favor increased limits on gun sales, 15 percent want a decrease in restrictions and 47 percent said they should remain the same.
The Scripps Howard Data Center poll of 1,000 adult Texans, surveyed by telephone from May 22 to June 16, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Some poll results left both sides of the gun debate doubtful, such as a finding that half of Texans polled said they did not own a gun nor does anyone else in their household.
"I would kind of look real closely at the margin of error and the methodology, especially on that question," Gibson said. "I think people are real guarded about who they let know they have firearms and how many firearms they have."
Another surprise for Gibson was that the poll showed gun ownership in Texas has dropped from 55 percent last November to 48 percent now.
Texans, aged 50 to 59, are the most likely to own guns -- 59 percent -- and 58 percent of Anglos own guns versus only 23 percent of Hispanics and 28 percent of blacks. East Texans are most likely to live in households with guns -- 59 percent -- while South Texans are least likely, 40 percent.
Texans continue to show strong support for a law allowing private citizens to carry concealed weapons. Sixty-two percent said they favor the law, including 77 percent among gun owners. Thirty-one percent oppose the right to carry a concealed handgun.
Nestor Rivera
New member
If the poll was not crooked (which it very may well be) then PLEASE Mr Democrat RUN on a ticket with "resonable restrictions" on our RIGHTS I would love to see what happens 
with the execption of the Austin and mabye parts of Houston the vote will be a tad one sided.
Texas Born and VOTEING
with the execption of the Austin and mabye parts of Houston the vote will be a tad one sided. Texas Born and VOTEING
Nestor, I was watching some show the other night when Sheila Jackson Lee was on, and was amazed to find out she's from Texas. What's with that? I expected her to be from Illinois or somewhere like that. Does she represent Austin?
Just when I thought Texas was the last enclave of sanity.
Dick
Want to send Bush a message? Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/monk/petition.html and send the link to every gun owner you know.
Just when I thought Texas was the last enclave of sanity.
Dick
Want to send Bush a message? Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/monk/petition.html and send the link to every gun owner you know.
Monkeyleg - I believe Ms. Shiela "Man on Mars" Jackson Lee represents part of Houston.
All - one thing to remember about these polls is that they may not be representative of the target population as a whole. The Wall Street Journal had an interesting article in January of 98 just before MonicaGate hit (kinda got lost in the shuffle after that). Seems that marketing survey types were concerned about the quality of the data they were getting. Only about 50% of those called even answered the phone, and a good number of those hung up when they found out it was a marketer calling. Of those who stayed and answered, a disturbingly high percentage were of the "eager to please" type, i.e. they gave answers that they thought the surveyors wanted to hear, not necessarily what they truly believed or reflected their real behavior. This may hold true for advocacy pollsters, too - makes massaging the questions to get the answers they want easier.
Don't hear much about this, I guess because it works to the advantage of both sides.
All - one thing to remember about these polls is that they may not be representative of the target population as a whole. The Wall Street Journal had an interesting article in January of 98 just before MonicaGate hit (kinda got lost in the shuffle after that). Seems that marketing survey types were concerned about the quality of the data they were getting. Only about 50% of those called even answered the phone, and a good number of those hung up when they found out it was a marketer calling. Of those who stayed and answered, a disturbingly high percentage were of the "eager to please" type, i.e. they gave answers that they thought the surveyors wanted to hear, not necessarily what they truly believed or reflected their real behavior. This may hold true for advocacy pollsters, too - makes massaging the questions to get the answers they want easier.
Don't hear much about this, I guess because it works to the advantage of both sides.