Firearms Friday: PEW Research Shows Increased Support Of Gun Rights

While it may not occur every week, I am starting a series of posts called “Firearms Friday”. This is where I will do my best to keep all of the firearms related posts (unless there is a more pressing topic that week). This is when I will discuss different topics in the industry, review products, and share any other information that may be of interest. I will also be seeking guest posts for this series so if you are interested in writing on a topic or contributing a review please email me at timetokeepitsimple@gmail.com!

It has been an interesting week in firearms news especially with regard to public perception and support of the right to own firearms. While there have been many instances when I have be, let us say, displeased with the results of PEW Research surveys, it looks as though they are finally tracking a trend that many of us have seen progressing over the past few years. Overall, the survey concluded that “52% say it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, while 46% say it is more important to control gun ownership.” Again, many of us have seen and experienced this over the last few years despite the reports that keep flooding the news.

However, the results become much more interesting when you really delve into the numbers. Let us first look at the concept of guns as a means of protection:

“The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted Dec. 3-7 among 1,507 adults, also finds a shift in attitudes about whether gun ownership in this country does more to protect people or put people’s safety at risk. Nearly six-in-ten Americans (57%) say gun ownership does more to protect people from becoming victims of crime, while 38% say it does more to endanger personal safety. In the days after Newtown, 48% said guns do more to protect people and 37% said they placed people at risk.”

Looking even deeper into the figures there is nearly an across the board rise in support for gun rights over the past two years with the only outliers being those who consider themselves to be liberal democrats.

Even more recently, the support has increased over the past year regardless of age, gender, political affiliation, and level of education with only a couple of exceptions where we see a minor decrease.

The important aspect that one must look at in this poll is that this is increased support for the individual right to own firearms. People, regardless of the background of the individual, seem to be coming around the realization that there is a limit to what you want the government to control. It is a constant struggle, especially with regard to the topic of firearms ownership, to maintain that right. However, people are beginning to see how misguided and downright combative the antigun groups really are and the nanny state mentality that they all promote. Many people may not be gun owners, but they understand that the right isn’t reliant upon them personally exercising it. Who knows, maybe they will become a responsible gun owner in the future… if they support the right now they will still have that freedom in the future.

Range Time Equality

In the beginning every target looks the same. 

After reading an amusing article on Sass, Brass & Bullets I took some time to think about the stereotypes that she discussed. When talking about going to the range or firearms in general, the view from the outside is completely different than that which we, as enthusiasts, experience. In fact, it is pretty much the complete opposite of the judgmental views that many people have of the sport and of us as individuals. So I wanted to take this time to talk a little about what my experiences have been like with the sport.

It is interesting to me when I go to the range, look around, and see the different people walking off the firing line as well as those in each lane. While there are many people with tunnel vision out there who would like to paint a picture that encapsulates every gun owner out there, that is simply an impossible task. Heck, just in the people I know personally, there is a tremendous variety of those who enjoy the shooting sports. It doesn’t matter what race, gender, orientation, social standing, financial stature, or background, there is a wide variety of people on the line at any given time enjoying the same right afforded to all of us.

On the range, some people may have the nicer firearm, but that doesn’t matter. Just like the aforementioned diversity doesn’t matter. It all comes down to putting holes in paper or shots on target, everything else doesn’t mean crap. And many times we take the time to learn from one another, we look out for each other, and we admire the talent that some people have (I am certainly not one of those being sought after for tips).

We all go to the line, focus, and block out the rest of the world with a basic relaxing task that we all enjoy. Granted there are some people that go to the range and shouldn’t but, the majority of the time, those of us that respect firearms and truly enjoy the sport are there to either guide or ‘kindly correct’ them. This is not a sport where ignorance and stupidity are tolerated. Sure you can have a little fun or, within certain parameters, ‘kid around’ but this is all with safety and respect in the forefront of our minds.

The main thing to remember is that the stereotypes that are bandied about by the anti-gun, anti-equality, people out there are simply untrue in just about every sense. I have enjoyed having great conversations with a wide variety of people on a number of different topics all stemming from our common interest in firearms. At the same time, it is a great way to share time with friends within the social atmosphere of the range.

Firearms have always been the great equalizer but most people have lost sight of the fact enjoyment of the craftsmanship, skill, and talent that can be found at the range is also a tremendous means of equality. Those that truly enjoy and appreciate the shooting sports understand this and many of us go to the range seeing talent on the trigger not the differences in the person behind the butt stock. In the end, if you want to find utopia, go to the range.