I periodically share public opinion data, either because I’m encouraged by the results or because I think that the research helps show how to frame issues.
Examples include polling data on personal retirement accounts, the dangers of big government, support for spending caps, and viability of class warfare tax policy.
But I’ve been very narrowly focused. Just about all the polls I’ve shared have been about some aspect of fiscal policy.
So I was very interested to see a new poll about issues related to the Second Amendment, and I was particularly gratified to see that an overwhelming majority of gun owners would not surrender their constitutional rights if the jackals in Washington approved a gun ban.
For more information, here’s part of a Washington Times report on the new polling data.
Question 46 in the wide-ranging survey of more than 1,000 registered voters asks if there is a gun in the household. Overall, 52 percent of the respondents said yes, someone in their home owned a gun. That number included 65 percent of Republicans, 59 percent of conservatives, 38 percent of Democrats and 41 percent of liberals. But on to Question 47, addressed to those with a gun in their home: “If the government passed a law to take your guns, would you give up your guns or defy the law and keep your guns?” The response: 65 percent reported they would “defy the law.” That includes 70 percent of Republicans, 68 percent of conservatives, 52 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of liberals.
These results don’t tell us why people would defy the government, but the poll I conducted suggests that a plurality of Americans support the Second Amendment because they want the ability to resist tyranny.
I’m also happy to see that most Americans understand that gun bans are a very ineffective way of fighting crime. Heck, they realize that we need more guns in the hands of law-abiding people.
In other words, ordinary Americans have a lot more common sense than the buffoons in the media. They know that you get less crime when you increase the expected cost of criminal behavior.
P.S. If you want to enjoy some good gun control cartoons, click here, here, and here.
International Liberty 
[…] owners report that their weapons have been “lost” or “stolen” – which surely would happen if American politicians ever tried gun confiscation in the United […]
[…] it harder for these evil people to obtain firearms, but watch this video from Reason (or look at this polling data) if you actually think that’s a practical […]
[…] it harder for these evil people to obtain firearms, but watch this video from Reason (or look at this polling data) if you actually think that’s a practical […]
[…] it harder for these evil people to obtain firearms, but watch this video from Reason (or look at this polling data) if you actually think that’s a practical […]
[…] it harder for these evil people to obtain firearms, but watch this video from Reason (or look at this polling data) if you actually think that’s a practical […]
[…] And I hope to come across many more examples, on issues ranging from red tape to gun control. […]
[…] was delighted to learn in 2013 that an overwhelming majority of Americans would disobey if politicians passed laws to confiscate private […]
[…] of my favorite bits of polling data is from earlier this decade, when Americans said they would disobey gun confiscation by a three-to-one […]
[…] with the likely exception of gun owners, we no longer seem to have the same ornery attitude as our ancestors. Though Charles Murray has a […]
[…] I suppose it’s also worth mentioning that it won’t be easy to ban and confiscate guns if they ever succeeded in weakening the Bill of […]
[…] he’s now sufficiently “woke” on guns that he would be part of the resistance if his former fellow travelers on the left ever tried a gun […]
[…] I suppose it’s also worth mentioning that it won’t be easy to ban and confiscate guns if they ever succeeded in weakening the Bill of Rights. But hopefully […]
[…] was a poll on this issue back in 2013 and it’s worth noting that respondents, by a 3-1 margin, said they would defy such a […]
[…] Or they go for sweeping gun bans and confiscation. Which, if ever enacted, would lead to widespread civil disobedience. […]
[…] Or they go for sweeping gun bans and confiscation. Which, if ever enacted, would lead to widespread civil disobedience. […]
[…] to the extent that good people obey bad gun-control laws (and hopefully they won’t), that will encourage more criminal activity since bad people will be less worried about armed […]
[…] to the extent that good people obey bad gun-control laws (and hopefully they won’t), that will encourage more criminal activity since bad people will be less worried about armed […]
[…] to the extent that good people obey bad gun-control laws (and hopefully they won’t), that will encourage more criminal activity since bad people will be less worried about armed […]
[…] to the extent that good people obey bad gun-control laws (and hopefully they won’t), that will encourage more criminal activity since bad people will be less worried about armed […]
I would not be surprised if civil disobedience came about due to political leaders trying to undermine our right to own them. The right to own firearms is an inherent right for the people of the U.S., a right never to be violated.
[…] what mattered most was that voters did not want their gun rights eroded by politicians. Polling data shows the American people would engage in massive civil disobedience if politicians tried to ban guns. […]
[…] it because he knows it will lead to massive civil disobedience? (if Obamacare is any indication, he doesn’t care whether laws actually […]
[…] As you can see, I’m doing a bit of a victory dance. It’s great that the American people won’t go along with the left, even if it means they have to engage in civil disobedience. […]
[…] As you can see, I’m doing a bit of a victory dance. It’s great that the American people won’t go along with the left, even if it means they have to engage in civil disobedience. […]
[…] And when a handful of state governments goagainst the trend and try to trample on constitutional rights to gun ownership, politicians get tossed out of office and gun owners engage in massive civil disobedience. […]
[…] And when a handful of state governments go against the trend and try to trample on constitutional rights to gun ownership, politicians get tossed out of office and gun owners engage in massive civil disobedience. […]
[…] If you want good news about public opinion and gun rights, click here, here, and […]
[…] it because he knows it will lead to massive civil disobedience? (if Obamacare is any indication, he doesn’t care whether laws actually […]
[…] The bottom line is that future gun control efforts in California will probably run into the same problems that have thwarted the schemes of despicable politicians in Connecticut. Three cheers for the Americans who disobey bad law! […]
[…] also encouraging that gun owners have no intention of obeying bad gun control laws, with evidence of massive resistance to bad laws in states such as Connecticut, Colorado, and New […]
[…] let’s not forget about the poll showing an overwhelming majority of regular citizens would engage in civil disobedience if the government tried to confiscate […]
[…] let’s not forget about the poll showing an overwhelming majority of regular citizens would engage in civil disobedience if the government tried to confiscate […]
[…] let’s not forget about the poll showing an overwhelming majority of regular citizens would engage in civil disobedience if the government tried to confiscate […]
[…] in addition to having lots of guns in America, we also are quite ready to defy the government if politicians try to take them […]
[…] in addition to having lots of guns in America, we also are quite ready to defy the government if politicians try to take them […]
[…] have very strong polling data from cops that gun control is misguided. And ordinary citizens would engage in massive civil disobedience (as we’re seeing in Connecticut) if the thugs in government tried to confiscate […]
[…] have very strong polling data from cops that gun control is misguided. And ordinary citizens would engage in massive civil disobedience (as we’re seeing in Connecticut) if the thugs in government tried to confiscate […]
[…] seen some polling data that shows there would be widespread civil disobedience if politicians tried to confiscate guns, but I wondered whether people would be more willing to […]
[…] the real constraint on the statists is the wonderful fact that the American people would respond with massive civil disobedience if politicians ever tried to take our guns. Heck, even some very admirable government officials […]
[…] Those political results were impressive, but it’s even more surprising that we’re now we’re seeing some very admirable forms of civil disobedience. But what’s amazing isn’t that citizens are refusing to obey tyrannical and unjust law. […]
[…] Those political results were impressive, but it’s even more surprising that we’re now we’re seeing some very admirable forms of civil disobedience. But what’s amazing isn’t that citizens are refusing to obey tyrannical and unjust law. […]
[…] so, all I can say is good luck trying to enforce gun bans. The American people would engage in widespread disobedience if our own politicians tried to take away our constitutional […]
[…] so, all I can say is good luck trying to enforce gun bans. The American people would engage in widespread disobedience if our own politicians tried to take away our constitutional […]
[…] what mattered most was that voters did not want their gun rights eroded by politicians. Polling data shows the American people would engage in massive civil disobedience if politicians tried to ban guns. […]
[…] Polling data shows the American people would engage in massive civil disobedience if politicians tried to ban guns. But it’s also comforting that voters also are willing to overcome heavy odds to knock off politicians who push for any type of gun control. […]
Hey everyone……the amount of gun ownership in the USA scares the hell out of this fascist government we have had for the last 13-yrs. The US invades these mid east counties and have one hell of a time subduing the enemy. The enemies numbers are typically in the hundreds of thousands, if the US government keeps pushing their Socialist Communistic agenda, they could face at a minimum, 20-million patriots that say enough is enough!
I believe their plan is to very slowly ban certain guns, with specific times to carry other guns, they need a few more false flags to get the Lemmings and the MSM fired up to once again deceive the American people through illegal legislation that will continue the degradation of whats left our constitution……GOD HELP US!
[…] of gun owners are willing to defy the law if politicians ban private possession of […]
[…] it appears cops are even better on the Second Amendment than ordinary Americans. According to this polling data I shared back in January, “only” 58 percent of Americans understood that more guns would reduce […]
I always end up thinking about the “War on Drugs.” Government couldn’t figure out how to stop that and drug users aren’t usually the most legally focused citizens.
Government prohibition always fails.
I think the real concern should be governments slow increase in taxation and regulations on guns. It’s like the frog in boiling water metaphor. Their best chance of removing guns from the hands of citizens is slowly. Every step along people will just say, its ONLY this or ONLY that until virtually no one can own them anyway.
[…] Daniel Mitchell passes on a Washington Times report on the interesting results of a Fox News poll: […]
Most americans aren’t capable enough to think for themselves, this is retarded. Your “Right” to own a firearm for sport isn’t more important than my right to life, so when people with guns are out killing people, guns need to be taken out of the equation.
Reblogged this on Public Secrets and commented:
The right to defend one’s property, one’s liberty, and one’s life is a right that pre-exists any government. It is a natural right of all human beings, something that is recognized by the Bill of Rights, rather than granted. Thus I’m not surprised to this survey show that a majority of Americans would engage in civil disobedience, should the government act against the Second Amendment. In fact, it’s already happening in New York.
The Washington Times poll did not/not question respondents about whether they would support a ban by feds on rapid-fire, high capacity, military-style assault rifles. I believe poll results would have been different, especially in the wake of 12/14. The poll also supports my concerns that the greatest threat to our democracy — tyranny — is posed by heavily armed Republicans who fear cultural change brought about by the communications revolution, better education, and globalization.
As Andrew Jackson, 7th USA President, said:
“Eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.”
Yet gun controllers follow Nazi (National Socialist) Dictator Hitler and want to deny you the right to protect yourself. See http://www.lifestrategies.net/the-right-to-protect-yourself/
Zorba, you are, as the British say, spot on. The Second Amendment is no more important the the other Amendments that we have allowed to fall by the way side, and none of these people did a thing. You can’t even get a majority of folks in this country to vote against the President that is accelerating this process. Settle down people, take your Prozac, drink your beer, the game is on tomorrow.
I think they meant “I fantasize that I would defy the law”. How many defy the law when the majority asks them to surrender their income? That is indicative of how many will really resist when threatened with long prison sentences. Remember Jesus, remember Socrates. That’s what happens to those who offend the majority and resist its will.
Besides confiscation won’t happen in one stroke. The objective will be to reduce gun owners to a minority through lesser laws that have wider appeal. Then once a minority they will be done in. That’s how things work in Democracy.
Resist with guns? really? If the US became France, how many would pick up arms to resist? These are simply fantasies, consolations of people who are losing their freedom. People who are on an irreversible mandatory path to Europeanization-Francification-Decline. The frog has already lost his ability to jump out of the pot. He’s in denial and fantasizing about his once cool life in the free pond. “Good times will come again. The US will not only be spared Euro-growth rates, but will actually keep its relative prosperity by matching the five percent average world growth”. Keep running lemmings. Do you know how many before you followed the same hope, the same change, the same slogans down to decline? They were not as stupid or as gullible as you think.
The way I’m reading this is that 65% of the 52% who own guns will resist tyranny. So really that’s only about a 33.8% who will resist. Granted that’s about 100 million people (and you have to figure there are some who don’t own guns for various reasons but would defend the 2nd Amendment) but still that just seems like a rather low number. (And the poll is only of registered voters…does anyone know if they’re more or less likely to own a gun/resist?)
Reblogged this on This Got My Attention and commented:
Poll shows 65% of Americans would refuse to obey any law ordering them to give up their guns to the government.