Police Poll: Armed Citizens, Not Gun Control, Will Lower Violent Crime

[sailingaway]

In a poll conducted by PoliceOne, a majority of law enforcement personnel said universal background checks, "assault weapons" bans, and "high capacity" magazine bans do not make police safer and will not lower violent crime. Armed citizens, on the other hand, do make a positive difference.
In the poll of 15,000 law enforcement professionals, 71% of respondents said an "assault weapons" ban would have zero impact on violent crime. Of those surveyed, 95.7% said the same of a "high capacity" magazine ban, and 79.7% said the same in response to a question on universal background checks.

Over 90% of these law enforcement professionals said "mandatory sentences with no plea bargains" for those who use a gun in perpetrating a crime would reduce violent crime.
concealed carry laws for citizens without a felony in their past, 91.3% of respondents answered "yes" on "without question and without further restrictions."
When asked if they supported

Additionally, 80% of these law enforcement professionals also agreed that casualties at Sandy Hook Elementary would "have likely been reduced" if "legally-armed citizens" had been in the school.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/04/09/Law-Enforcement-Poll-Obama-s-Gun-Control-Won-t-Lower-Violent-Crime-Armed-Citizens-Will

[ItsTime]

Interesting. My town has some great police officers. Even delivered Ron Paul signs to a few of them. They actively, through holding classes and actual private sales of guns, are trying to get more guns in the community. I thought this was an exception.

[Anti Federalist]

Violent crime is at historical lows...in some places as low as record ever kept show.

http://static.prisonplanet.com/p/images/january2013/070113graph2.gif

[Zippyjuan]

A couple of more points from the survey (full results here: http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/p1_gunsurveysummary_2013.pdf

They split evenly when asked if people should be required to complete a safety class before being allowed to purchase a gun (Question #9).

They do seem to support checking up on buyers of guns:

8. Do you think increasing the severity of punishments for gun trafficking, particularly by
unlicensed dealers or "straw purchasers" who buy arms for persons ineligible to own
them, would reduce instances of gun crime?

58.8% said "yes".


10. Would requiring mental health background checks on prospective buyers in all gun
sales from federally-licensed dealers reduce instances of mass shooting incidents?
One third said "Yes". 24% were unsure.


12. How big a problem do you feel gun crime is in your jurisdiction?

Only 16% said "Significant". 39.8% answered "small".


18. Whether or not you have an active ‘open carry movement’ in your jurisdiction, what is
your opinion about the concept and practice?

40.8% said it was valid but misguided. 18.2% called it a "bad idea".

60% said they always carry a firearm when off duty. 23.4% said "usually".


28. What do you believe is the biggest cause of gun violence in the United States?

Top reply? Decline in parenting and family values with 38%. Next was Parole, early release, and short sentencing for violent offenders

which takes us back to #13 on the survey.


13. Do you believe that use of a firearm while perpetrating a crime should result in stiff, mandatory sentences with no plea bargains?

91.4% said "yes".

[sailingaway]

I suspect they'd like databases even less if they weren't the guys looking at them and were only going to be on them for others to paw over their private information.

[green73]

drudged!
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/9/survey-law-enforcement-professionals-say-gun-restr/

[jbauer]

Ok assholes in DC. This should clear enough for you to read.