None of which changes the fact that random surveys are completely devoid of scientific validity, and cannot actually be proven. There is no way of verifying whether or not the answer that was given is an accurate or honest response to the question presented. It is nothing more than hearsay. There is not even a method of determining just which area and/or areas were actually selected for the survey, to determine if it were indeed random or not. All such information is withheld from the public. The simple fact of the matter is that without universal registration of every single firearm in the united states, there is no way of telling just how many individuals actually own firearms. Off topic and irrelevant nonsense. The above is, without doubt, the most often presented defense whenever it is pointed out that poll data is not scientific, and relies on the person being queried to be honest in their responses. There are a great many reasons for why individuals would refrain from admitting to owning a firearm, chief among them is to avoid becoming a victim of robbery. What evidence is provided to them so that they know none of their identifying information is being compiled and used for criminal purposes? None whatsoever. What incentive does anyone actually have to be honest when asked such a question? Such does not change the fact that their so-called "data" cannot actually be verified. Simply because they have been doing it for decades, does not mean that they are actually doing it correctly. If something is wrong once, the same pattern will continue to be wrong regardless of how many times it is carried out. And yet it is not actually possible for yourself to refute the above claim about the supplied information being scientifically unproven.
Explain how so. Exactly what has the NRA as an organization, done to actually facilitate people being murdered?
Then in simple, uncomplicated, easy to understand terms, there is no actual proof on the part of yourself.
Funny how that less firearms in fewer households is made, yet, concealed carry permits are being issued in record breaking numbers, various models and types of guns cannot be manufactured fast enough and are on back order, gun club and range memberships are on the rise, as are the sales of gun cleaning kits ammo and other related accessories. People are already suspicious over data mining and identity theft and other misuse of public information, as when some media ad sources wanted to publish lists of concealed carry permit holders.
I have stayed on poll calls to give misleading information. So your anecdotal "me and my friends" is purely that. Is it any surprise that retailers go where their customers are? Do you think that politicians in red states depend upon polls to hear from their constituents? Do you think that politicians in Blue states care what is Constitutional? No, to both. I have zero tolerance for polls and your straw man argument about black helicopters. I don't care what the majority wants. If proposed laws aren't Constitutional, effective, enforceable or would be enforced, then it does't matter what some mythical majority from a poll wants. These laws shouldn't pass. I contact my politicians directly.
The vast majority of shooting victims in the US are victims of handguns. Whites are occasionally shot by semi-auto rifles. Blacks are far more routinely shot by handguns. The focus on controlling semi-auto rifles with the claim that 'more gun control = less gun violence' is a pretty blatant prioritization of protecting whites first. An honest attempt to most effectively curb gun violence with restrictions would be leveled at handguns, not rifles. The logical conclusion here is that the bulk of the gun controllers either: a- care more about a few whites getting killed with rifles than many blacks getting killed by handguns b- just want to restrict any guns they can regardless of effect (insinuating an anything but reasonable intent on the matter)
The American public may be emotional at times, but eventually this type of over-the-top hyperbole and obviously untrue manipulation will be seen for what it is; the infamous "big lie" and it will backfire on those pushing the meme. “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth” -- Joseph Goebbels "Never let a crisis go to waste" -- Rahm Emmanuel
Then don't claim to know whether or not there are more or less gun owners. I provided evidence and you and the other poster decided that all evidence is "meaningless". The fact that you stayed on to lie about a poll says volumes about you as a person and frankly it doesn't surprise me from you responses. To hell with evidence or facts you will just believe what you want to believe. That is called being a zealot or ideologue and its not a good thing. What does a gun ownership poll say anything about what people "want". Its literally a poll about whether you own a firearm or not. That's it. Only a conspiracy minded nut would read anything into it other than that. I don't own a Chevy and never will doesn't mean I want them to be illegal. Nor does not owning a gun mean that that person wants them banned. Of course apparently in your warped reality of conspiracies and ATF officers hiding behind every tree its apparently different. If you think that politicians don't look at polls then you are extremely naive. Obamacare is still here because Republicans in blue states were terrified of losing constituent support which *gasp* they infer from looking at polls.
You do realize that conceal carry only deals with carrying weapons in public. Lots of people own guns that don't have CC permits. I have a shotgun and a rifle where I live but no CC. Once again why would a gun owner shy away from saying they have a gun? Claiming they don't is giving political cover to anti-gun people.
You talk about statistics but clearly have never actually taken a class on them. As I said before the most reliable polling uses random sampling with a minimum of 30 samples (most polls use a couple thousand). That is how statistics work. If you use anything other than a random sample then you add variables that will mess up your results. If the pollsters asked only farmers in Kansas they would get a very skewed and inaccurate number. Once again why would someone feel the need to lie about their gun ownership to PEW?
None of which actually refutes the points that have been raised to demonstrate the lack of scientific validity regarding random survey data, as it cannot in any way be verified. Science tests concepts to either prove or disprove them. Random surveys take the word of the individuals being queried, and concludes that their statements are one hundred percent accurate and in need of no further evaluation or analysis. Beyond such, there is no evidence, none whatsoever, to show that the individuals who are selected for the survey, and truly randomly selected. There is no process presented to show that they were not specifically selected on the basis of race, age, zip code, criminal conviction, or any other factor that would influence the outcome. There is no evidence that the survey was even actually carried out. All that is had is what is claimed to be had, and released to the public. It is nothing more than a claim, and is not entitled to any standard of credibility by virtue of its supposed existence. For the simple, undeniable fact, that it is not the business of anyone to try and figure out who does or does not legally own firearms in the united states. No organization has any legitimacy in attempting to possess such knowledge, and no business in trying to acquire it.
Reporter: 'Will you disarm your security detail in the interest of gun control?' Micheal Moore: 'I'll get back to you on that.' Anyone who thinks they're important enough to have guns for protection but I'm not can go F themselves.
Yes they do. Its a polling company that is the entire point of their existence to poll people on various subjects. They poll people on hours worked, vacations taken and all sorts of things. I had a poll once that asked me which radio stations I listened to. The fact that you think this is some kind of grand conspiracy to take your guns aways just shows how off the deep end you are. Its a ****ing poll on a politically active topic for **** sake.
Pew is nonprofit and their credibility relies on being nonpartisan. Pew isn't paid one dime by any organization to make a poll they make the polls and then groups pay them for access to the poll. For **** sake this thread is just filled with lunatics and conspiracy mongers. Go the listen to some more Alex Jones why don't you.
Pew isn't the only polling firm, and they all get painted with the same wide brush. Why is it important to know the percentage of households with guns, or any trends, for gun control?
We are at the tipping point of stupidity and I can't take anything serious from a generation that eats Tide pods for entertainment but, like yourself Galileo, knows next to nothing about the Constitution.
From your avatar I wouldn't guess that you support more restrictions on handguns. I do agree with you. But it's not like you we can't also address problems caused by easy access to semi-auto rifles. We don't have to choose between restricting handguns and semi-auto rifles. Both should be subject to restrictions. We don't have to choose between saving black and white lives. All lives matter.
Your side has a history of being stubborn and uncompromising. Your side has created its own opposition by refusing to be reasonable about the gun control issue. Now people are getting fed up and lives are at stake. They've speaking out and no longer worry if they offend people like you. They know that they have to play hardball if they are going to make any progress.
I don't think it matters. As long as we do nothing to delve deep into our society to find out what motivates these people to go out to a public place, kill innocent bystanders, kill as many as possible just to kill. I really don't think it matters on guns. Take some types of guns away, with the motivation still in place, they move on to different guns. Take all guns away, with the motivation still in place, they move on to other means of killing masses of people. Perhaps bombs, perhaps fire, arson, perhaps chemicals or other means. No one is willing to find out what motivates those who do these mass killings. I think most folks are scared to find out the cause, the reason, the motivation. Ban away, it will do no good. The means will change because we are leaving the reasons, the causes and the motivation in place.
You're right, I dont support further handgun restrictions. But this crusade against rifles is nonsensical so long as handguns remain the vast bulk of tools used in gun violence. Its demonstrative of the lack of reason and ration applied by the gun controllers. They're being led around by their emotions without any critical thought, being used for a political agenda by politicians who dgaf about reducing violence.
If you can't answer that simple question that is on you. Gun ownership just like car ownership or home ownership are all things that play into politics. You could ask that same asinine question about home ownership. "Why do they need to know who owns their own homes" Its the infantile response of a reactionary that has no interest in learning anything new. We do polls to learn things about people whether its their status or their views on any number of given subjects. They poll for reactions to new products, they poll to ask if you believe in Jesus, they poll for pretty much everything so why is it that you think polling for gun ownership is somehow conspiratorial but the other stuff isn't?
"Uncompromising"? It's a protected right. It's not incumbent upon the pro-gun side to compromise a right. What has the GCAs ever offered as a compromise except more restrictions?
Spare me the revisionist history. No, YOUR side has a history of being thoroughly dishonest and demanding "compromises" that were blatantly unconstitutional and based in making YOU feel good while doing nothing to actually address the core issues of crime and violence. Nevertheless, MY side has often decided to compromise and allow enactment of certain laws and regulations which YOUR side promised would be "all we need". Then, when the new regs and laws proved to be an abject failure at fixing the societal problems they were supposed to address, you demanded new and ever more draconian regulations and screamed how "stubborn and uncompromising" we were and how we were "refusing to be reasonable". You have lied, and manufactured statistics, and tried to find ways around the Constitution or even ignored the Constitution altogether. We have been bullied and threatened and endured denigration and slander and ever escalating smears of our intelligence, our morality, and our very humanity... and now WE'RE being accused of being terrorists?? Well, bubba, you go on ahead and keep pushing, because we are DONE giving up even the barest inch to you. You keep pushing, but don't you be even a little bit surprised when we push back and push back HARD. Trust me: that fight is one you are going to regret starting!
