Pretty good news...

The sniper attacks that killed 10 people, injured three more and partially paralyzed the Washington area for nearly three weeks had little impact on Americans' attitudes about guns.

Indeed, according to a newly released Gallup poll, what has changed is the public's perception of the effectiveness of police.

The survey, taken Oct. 14-17 – before police arrested suspects John Allen Muhammad, 42, and John Lee Malvo, 17 – showed that Americans are as "closely divided" now over whether gun sales should be more strict as they were a year ago.

A "bare majority" of Americans, or 51 percent, said laws covering the sale of firearms should be more strict, which is about the same as in October 2001, said Gallup. About one-third, or 36 percent, say laws should remain the same, while about one in 10 favor relaxing them.

Those who favor a ban on civilian possession of handguns have remained constant over the past several years, at between 32 and 38 percent, compared to between 59 and 65 percent opposed. Currently, 32 percent are in favor of a ban, while 65 percent oppose it – about the same as in August 2000, said Gallup analysts.

Gallup also found no change in the past year in the number of people who say they have a gun in their homes. Forty-one percent said they have a gun in their home, compared to 40 percent last year.

Women much more than men favor stricter gun-control measures, the survey found, while men are more likely to report having a gun in the home.

Meanwhile, 58 percent of Americans say they have confidence in police – down from 66 percent last year and down even further from 70 percent three years ago.

"What accounts for this recent decline in confidence in the police cannot be determined for certain," analysts said. While attitudes may have been tied somewhat to the fact that, when the poll was taken, no sniper suspects had been arrested, analysts say it also could be "a reflection of law-enforcement efforts in the fight against terrorism over the past year."

Despite the slip, confidence in law enforcement over the long term is up from levels seen in the 1980s and 1990s, when national violent crime rates were higher.

The results were polled from a selected national sample of 1,002 adults over the age of 18. The survey has a plus or minus 3 percent margin of error with a 95 percent level of confidence.


[b][blue]NAKED[/blue][/b]

If you liked that, you'll LOVE this:  An article in the Legal Times where Josh Sugarmann of the VPC bemoans the fact that the gun-control movement has lost its momentum:  [url=www.law.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/View&c=LawArticle&cid=1032128795063&live=true&cst=1&pc=0&pa=0]How the Gun Debate Died[/url]Well DUH!  

Much more.  I feel much better, but certainly not confident.

what will it take for us to be on the offense

what are the chances of getting existing gun laws repealed?

Women should never of been given the right to vote.

Leadership



We've been losing some of our opportunities as well. Post 9/11 was an excellent time to have pursued this. Gun attitudes began to change. We should've maintained the momentum and pushed a little. With Ashcroft on our side this was the best opportunity we've had.
The other thing our side is lacking is public relations. In that regard, at least, Charlton Heston was a phenomenal choice as NRA leader. Unfortunately the NRA does not want a victory. They want a continuation of the war. The "enemy" wants victory. At least that's the way I see it.

[b]The NRA called today to hit me up for money so that they could fight legislation prohibiting lobbying. They were ready to fight this all the way to SCOTUS if necessary and needed my money to do so.

What about fighting antigun laws. Ater all, that's what they are all about isn't it???[/b]

Yeah, that too! [):)]

II think this is the answer, quote from legal times article.

"The gun rights lobby hasn't rolled over on that front either. It has been pushing hard in Congress for a law that would grant it special immunity from tort suits. Recently, the measure looked ready for a vote in the House. Then the sniper arrived.

"They were sort of shamed out of voting on it," Lowy says.


It's that human emotion that comes and distorts the facts for that brief moment. Then logic kicks in and people move on and look at the facts once again.

Emotional vs. thinking Analytical.

Generally speaking, this is a key difference between men and women.

funny my wife says the same thing. she also thinks only property owners should be allowed to vote and that female cops are a joke.

whaddaya call a female detective?

Dickless Tracy.