Guns in public: Most Americans comfortable with public carry of handguns

[William Tell]

http://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2014/11/09/119_2014_guns-20140820-0078201_c0-245-3600-2343_s561x327.jpg?bdadacd28052eade43edf877e648a021 a8a52d13


“Most Americans” - 52 percent - say that they would feel comfortable if they saw someone carrying a handgun in a holster in public. So says a new YouGov poll - which also reveals the nuances of public sentiment, and the large partisan divides. Here are the numbers:


52 percent overall say they would be comfortable if they saw someone with a handgun in a holster in public; 72 percent of Republicans, 54 percent of independents and 35 percent of Democrats agree.


48 percent overall say the ‘average American’ can be trusted with a firearm; 69 percent of Republicans, 49 percent of independents and 32 percent of Democrats agree.


45 percent say people should not be able to carry firearms in public; 23 percent of Republicans, 42 percent of independents and 66 percent of Democrats agree.


41 percent say people should be able to carry firearms in public; 67 percent of Republicans, 43 percent of independents and 21 percent of Democrats agree.


40 percent overall prefer “concealed carry” for firearms in public; 50 percent of Republicans, 38 percent of independents and 36 percent of Democrats agree.


37 percent overall prefer “open carry” in public; 36 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of independents and 38 percent of Democrats agree.


36 percent overall would be comfortable if someone carried a hunting rifle in public; 47 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of independents and 20 percent of Democrats agree.


20 percent overall would be comfortable if someone carried a semi-automatic rifle in public; 35 percent of Republicans, 19 percent of independents and 8 percent of Democrats agree.




Read more:http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/1/guns-public-poll-finds-most-americans-comfortable-/

[Ronin Truth]

I'd say it's pretty dependent on who is carrying it/them?

[Zippyjuan]

Couple notes. At the same time, a slight majority said people should NOT carry guns in public.


When it comes to carrying weapons in public, YouGov's latest research shows that people narrowly tend to say that people should not be allowed to carry firearms in public places (45%), though 41% of Americans do think that people should be allowed to carry firearms in public. There is a very significant regional divide on the issue, as people in the Northeast oppose allowing people to carry firearms by a large margin (58% to 26%) and only in the Midwest does support for allowing people to carry firearms reach 50%.



Handguns in holster were at least "somewhat" comfortable to a majority but again not by much (52% vs 48%). That drops to 36% at least "somewhat comfortable" to hunting guns in public and 20% for "semi auto" weapons.

https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/inlineimage/2015-05-28/opencarry5.png


Most Americans (52%) say that they would feel 'very' or 'somewhat' comfortable if they saw someone carrying a handgun in a holster in public, though 43% would be uncomfortable to some degree. Most Americans (58%) would be uncomfortable seeing someone carry a hunting rifle in a public place, while fully 57% of Americans would be 'very uncomfortable' seeing someone carry a semi-automatic rifle. Only 20% would be comfortable if they saw someone carry a semi-automatic rifle in public.


https://today.yougov.com/news/2015/05/27/americans-tend-trust-average-american-firearm/

[morfeeis]

I'm not comfortable with seeing fat people in tight clothing in public, but that has nothing to do with their right to dress in such a way. I understand how important it is to understand the thoughts of the people, but what another person is doing with their own property should be none of another's business.

[Ronin Truth]

I'm not comfortable with seeing fat people in tight clothing in public, but that has nothing to do with their right to dress in such a way. I understand how important it is to understand the thoughts of the people, but what another person is doing with their own property should be none of another's business. Really? Are fat people in tight clothing any imminent life or death threat to your safety?

[nobody's_hero]

Really? Are fat people in tight clothing any imminent life or death threat to your safety?

Are holstered firearms? Or rifles slung over the shoulder? Is a .308 hunting rifle capable of blowing the internal organs of a hog out through the exit wound with one rather-poorly-aimed shot, somehow less lethal than a semi-auto that fires .223 and makes pinholes even if you hit exactly what you're aiming at? Hell, I'd feel more uncomfortable with someone toting a duck-hunting shotgun than an AR. Those last two questions alone should be evidence that most people who participated in the poll know nothing about firearms. Basically they should have asked which was prettier, 'a walnut stock bolt action rifle, or an uzi?' (Scary black guns!)

Morfeeis is right. Polls like this are bullshit because natural rights shouldn't depend on opinions of other people. People who let their belief systems be guided by poll results will always find their beliefs threatened when the tide of opinion shifts. Then again, in reality, if most people are against you then you're pretty much screwed anyway, but it doesn't make your rights any less inherent.

[presence]

36 percent overall would be comfortable if someone carried a hunting rifle in public;
20 percent overall would be comfortable if someone carried a semi-automatic rifle in public;


Everyone else probably can't tell the difference anyway.

http://www.remington.com/~/media/Images/Firearms/Centerfire/Model-750/Model-750-Woodmaster/750-prod.ashx?w=570&bc=ffffff




http://truthaboutguns-zippykid.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/P1110136-900x600.jpg

[donnay]

I know I feel safer with citizens being armed around me.

[Danke]

Really? Are fat people in tight clothing any imminent life or death threat to your safety?

Or people in cars (right to travel)' or how about the 1st A. Faggwon*, Niggar, saying that in public could possibly cause an imminent life or death threat.

[Ronin Truth]

I know I feel safer with citizens being armed around me. All citizens?

[Ronin Truth]

Or people in cars (right to travel)' or how about the 1st A. Faggwon*, Niggar, saying that in public could possibly cause an imminent life or death threat.

ZOOOOOOOM! You lost me.

[Danke]

All citizens?

Which ones may you feel uncomfortable, and what should be done about that?

[pcosmar]

Really? Are fat people in tight clothing any imminent life or death threat to your safety?

Nope,, but neither is a holstered,, or otherwise legally carried weapon.

[pcosmar]

All citizens?

Military uniformed employees of an Authoritarian State make me uncomfortable..

But I deal with it.

[Ronin Truth]

Nope,, but neither is a holstered,, or otherwise legally carried weapon.

I see your point, as stated above, my concern is largely with who. Just a bunch of folks running around, I'd really rather not see armed.

[pcosmar]

I see your point, as stated above, my concern is largely with who. Just a bunch of folks running around, I'd really rather not see armed.

Which folks?

Ones like this?

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3172/2470926038_4d4385d153_z.jpg

Or ones like this?

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5324/17217260303_b93a59c939_z.jpg

Which ones,? Perhaps someone with a different skin tone?

Leather Jacket? Tye Dye? Maybe just some greasy Guy from the Salvage yard? or sweaty guy doing Lawn care?

what is the criteria that would cause you to fear them?

[tod evans]

what is the criteria that would cause you to fear them?

Uniforms and/or all forms of government employees.

The only domestic government employees I'm comfortable having armed on duty are game wardens and only then if they're armed with tranquilizers...

[donnay]

All citizens?

Yep all. Second amendment means what it says and says what it mean. "...shall not be infringed."

[Danke]

Which folks?

Ones like this?

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3172/2470926038_4d4385d153_z.jpg

Or ones like this?

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5324/17217260303_b93a59c939_z.jpg

Which ones,? Perhaps someone with a different skin tone?

Leather Jacket? Tye Dye? Maybe just some greasy Guy from the Salvage yard? or sweaty guy doing Lawn care?

what is the criteria that would cause you to fear them?

I trust the first one, the second one looks subversive.

[pcosmar]

Everyone else probably can't tell the difference anyway.



A better comparison.

http://www.browning.com/support/files/images/brn/2012-All/2012-Product-Content/BAR-Safari-MID-031001-l.jpg

http://world.guns.ru/userfiles/images/sniper/sn84/fnar-l.jpg

and for the un-knowlegeble they are the same rifle,, from the same manufacturer.

[pcosmar]

I trust the first one, the second one looks subversive.

Well that is the deception..
The first one was the subversive.

[Origanalist]

I'd say it's pretty dependent on who is carrying it/them?

When did Zippy take over your account?

[Origanalist]

I trust the first one, the second one looks subversive.

They both look sketchy to me.

[Danke]

They both look sketchy to me.

Ya, I agree.

[pcosmar]

They both look sketchy to me.

I am still curious what Ronin's criteria is,,, for fear of his fellow man.

[Origanalist]

I am still curious what Ronin's criteria is,,, for fear of his fellow man.

I can take a wild guess or two....but I'm sure he would deny them.

[TheTexan]

I'd be very uncomfortable if I saw someone open carrying an automatic handgun

[pcosmar]

I'd be very uncomfortable if I saw someone open carrying an automatic handgun

How would you know an automatic from a semi-automatic handgun?

[Intoxiklown]

I am still curious what Ronin's criteria is,,, for fear of his fellow man.

I think he meant he personally knew some people. I'll be honest in that I know a few a people who literally have no business in having a firearm on their person. One is a cousin of mine (by marriage) who wants a gun because it completes his fantasy persona of how be believes the world sees him (and I'm sure if you saw him, you'd swear that somehow Frank Castle had leapt from the screen, and the Punisher was walking among us). He has some...issues.

[morfeeis]

I'd be very uncomfortable if I saw someone open carrying an automatic handgun

Not sure why it would cause any more worry than the people you see driving around you everyday. plus the likelihood of you seeing a fully automatic pistol being OC is very slim, now a semi automatic pistol on the other hand.... Plus i'd be willing to bet that while you are in public you cross paths with about 5-10 people a day who are armed, you just don't know about it.

[morfeeis]

Really? Are fat people in tight clothing any imminent life or death threat to your safety?

could be
http://www.strangecosmos.com/images/content/762.jpg

[nobody's_hero]

I'd be very uncomfortable if I saw someone open carrying an automatic handgun

Fully automatic? They have some handguns that fire full auto but they aren't very common.

Would you feel more comfortable with someone carrying a 9mm semi-auto handgun, or someone carrying a Smith&Wesson revolver that looks like a good-ole fashioned cowboy gun, only it's chambered in .357 magnum so it's far more devastating shot-for-shot than that scary-looking 9mm? What if the cowboy gun has a nickel plated finish, engravings, and pearl handgrips?

The 9mm is all black in color and has . . . . a flashlight attached!!!!

http://media.giphy.com/media/kKdgdeuO2M08M/giphy.gif

Does a gun's appearance make it more lethal or do you see some guns and think of them as collector's pieces while the others are weapons of mass destruction?

Appearance has absolutely nothing to do with lethality. The fact that some people feel more comfortable with 'hunting guns' than 'assault weapons' can only be explained through media propaganda and ignorance. (I'm not saying that they should be fearful of either, just that it's silly to decide based on looks alone)

[tod evans]

People are scary not guns, and people who are, by law, unaccountable for their actions involving guns are really scary...

[presence]

I'd say it's pretty dependent on who is carrying it/them?

Agreed. I certainly wouldn't want any slaves owning guns.

http://media.giphy.com/media/ba2MGMD435b2g/giphy-facebook_s.jpg

http://putlocker.is/watch-django-unchained-online-free-putlocker.html

[Ronin Truth]

Which ones may you feel uncomfortable, and what should be done about that?

Sociopaths, psychopaths, Black Panthers, Klansmen, children, most women, the mentally ill, Mafia goons, career criminals, muggers, armed robbers, etc., etc.

Solution?: I don't have it.

[Ronin Truth]

could be
http://www.strangecosmos.com/images/content/762.jpg

I wouldn't swim with that guy, unless he required it and I couldn't get away.

[Ronin Truth]

Agreed. I certainly wouldn't want any slaves owning guns.

http://media.giphy.com/media/ba2MGMD435b2g/giphy-facebook_s.jpg

http://putlocker.is/watch-django-unchained-online-free-putlocker.html

Django's enemies seemed to be pretty narrowly focused, and limited to some really bad folks.

[pcosmar]

http://www.cjhsla.org/wp-content/uploads/black-panthers.png


The Racist Roots of Gun Control
http://www.constitution.org/cmt/cramer/racist_roots.htm



http://musicians4freedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/dredscott2-500x395.jpg


I reject the concept of "race",, and all racism that is based on that concept..

[Root]

http://mweb.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25202787/look-man-reaches-for-foul-ball-reveals-concealed-firearm?FTAG=YHF7e3228e

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/Handgun_6215.jpg
It is legal in Texas to carry a concealed firearm with a permit, but firearms are banned at MLB ballparks. Minute Maid Park's website (http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/ballpark/information/index.jsp?content=security) specifically lists "Weapons - including but not limited to firearms, knives, mace" as forbidden.
Obviously the video raises concerns about MLB's security protocols. MLB ramped up security this year and had all 30 clubs install metal detectors this season, yet here's a fan carrying a gun.

605765390757560321

Bullshit!

[Ronin Truth]

http://mweb.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25202787/look-man-reaches-for-foul-ball-reveals-concealed-firearm?FTAG=YHF7e3228e

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/Handgun_6215.jpg
It is legal in Texas to carry a concealed firearm with a permit, but firearms are banned at MLB ballparks. Minute Maid Park's website (http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/ballpark/information/index.jsp?content=security) specifically lists "Weapons - including but not limited to firearms, knives, mace" as forbidden.
Obviously the video raises concerns about MLB's security protocols. MLB ramped up security this year and had all 30 clubs install metal detectors this season, yet here's a fan carrying a gun.

605765390757560321

Bullshit!

Perhaps it's just a water gun filled with vodka. :D