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New Poll Shows Majority of Americans Support NRA’s Plan to Put Armed Guards in Schools

Jan. 14, 2013 7:25pm
New Poll Shows Majority of Americans Support NRAs Plan to Put Armed Guards in Schools

Credit: AFP/Getty Images

A new Pew Research Center poll suggests that 64 percent of Americans support the National Rifle Association’s proposal of having armed guards in schools.

The NRA was criticized by politicians and media pundits alike when it suggested putting armed guards in schools to defend children against future shootings.

However, the poll also seems to indicate that there is still a lot of confusion surrounding so-called “assault weapons.”

The Pew poll shows 55 percent of Americans supporting a “ban on assault style weapons.” But in the same poll, an even bigger margin — 58 percent — supported a ban on “semi-automatic weapons.” The problem is, so-called “assault weapons” are nothing more than semi-automatic rifles. A semi-automatic weapons ban would cover not only rifles but also many handguns (like the one pictured at the top of this story), which other polling has shown the majority Americans are against.

Still, as demonstrated in the graphic below, more Americans said they support a semi-automatic weapons ban than an “assault style weapons” ban. It could be that the two terms have been used interchangeably to demonize the “scary” looking guns by anti-gun advocates.

New Poll Shows Majority of Americans Support NRAs Plan to Put Armed Guards in Schools

(Pew Center for the People and the Press)

“More than two-thirds (68%) of Americans agree that the constitutional right to own and carry a gun is as important as other constitutional rights,” a previous survey found.

The Pew poll also found that 80 percent of people favored preventing people with mental illnesses from getting guns and 67 percent favored a federal database to track gun sales. Roughly 40 percent of those surveyed favored having more teachers and school officials carry guns at schools.

 

(H/T: Brett LoGiurato, Business Insider)

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Comments (43)

  • cdb
    Posted on January 15, 2013 at 4:33pm

    Who in their right mind would not want to protect their children while in school???

    Report this comment

    cdb  
  • Arshloch
    Posted on January 15, 2013 at 3:37pm

    An ‘assult weapon’ is very simply the mouth of a politician who is determined to hold onto his/her job, i.e. the public teat, and to quote ‘de Chicago mayor’, “do not allow any crisis to go to waste”. and if none are forth coming, create one any way possible.

    Report this comment

    Arshloch  
  • timarina
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 11:18pm

    We have a sacred duty to obey the Constitution and put the regulate back in “well regulated”.

    Report this comment

    timarina  
    • Trigus
      Posted on January 15, 2013 at 12:41am

      Simple solution that will not cost Tax Payers anymore money: Turn all local, state, and federal buildings and court houses to ” Gun Free Zones ” remove all armed security and reassign them to schools. Problem solved.

      Since when are elected officials more important then our children?

      Report this comment

      Trigus  
  • rayh
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:09pm

    w/ all of this gun talk i still havent heard anyone state the obvious… its all liberalism. since i havent been able to look at all events, i would have to state that at least 90% of all gun shooting involve liberals. wether it involved a liberal state like IL, OR or CT, or liberal sites such as virgina tech, or college campus in IL. wasnt gabby giffords a huge liberal democrat.
    This just shows just how racists democrats are… why all of a sudden do liberals want to ban guns. over 350 young black people were killed in chicago alone and not one democrat said anything about banning guns but 20 young white people in a state that is 95% white now all of a sudden we have to ban guns… guess this is what happens when fast & furious fail…that only killed thousands of mexican people along w/ one American patriot..

    Report this comment

    NRA4LIFE  
  • jessieH
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:49pm

    If I’m not mistaken, every school has crossing guards. Why are there no armed guards? Is the teacher’s union so greedy, so cold hearted, they won’t give a small sum of money so we can afford to hire well trained armed guards for every school? Doesn’t colleges have armed security personell? Why not our younger children’s safety? Why doesn’t our government care enough to develop a plan to hire armed guards? That’s an exeutive order I can live with.

    Report this comment

    jessieH  
    • soybomb315_II
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:57pm

      what is a crossing guard? obviously not needed for high schools

      why cant it be a local decision?

      Report this comment

      soybomb315_II  
    • SendTheMeteors
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 9:25pm

      Actually about 1/3 of all schools have armed guards. Columbine had two armed guards. Virginia State had an entire police force on duty. When Giffords was shot there was a cop right there. He couldn’t fire back without taking a chance on killing an innocent person (the crowd overpowered him when his 30 round magazine ran dry).

      No matter. The website deliberately hid in the actual results of the poll in a graph, something most people on this website aren’t capable of understanding – or at least that’s the way it seems. Most Americans, the vast majority of Americans want gun control measures.

      My advice to you? Become an informed person and try hard to understand what We the People want our government to do instead of what We the Rush Limbaugh Listeners want. Or what We the Alex Jones Listeners want and believe.

      Report this comment

      SendTheMeteors  
    • Keatonc33
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 9:43pm

      who exactly are the 16% that oppose preventing people with mental illness from owning guns?

      Report this comment

      Keatonc33  
    • Keatonc33
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 9:47pm

      Send the meteors once again elegantly put! we too soon forget the armed guards at columbine, Virginia tech, Virginia state, Northern illinois university shooting etc etc

      Report this comment

      Keatonc33  
    • Mudd
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 9:53pm

      SENDTHEMETEORS: So, you personally know most Americans and they’ve told you they want stricter gun control measures? If not, then where are you getting your information and how do you know it’s accurate?

      Report this comment

      Mudd  
    • Grey Eagle
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:16pm

      I agree that all schools should have armed guards for the protection of the children.

      Report this comment

      Grey Eagle  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:16pm

    this is one of the dumbest things i have ever seen….You think we need TSA in school? Get a grip people!

    Report this comment

    soybomb315_II  
  • dmerwin
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:15pm

    If the liberals really wanted to reduce murder rates they would incarcerate felons with guns regardless of age or demographic and raze the inner city welfare crime factories and educate welfare recipients and FORCE them to move and work.

    Report this comment

    dmerwin  
  • dmerwin
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:13pm

    Interesting stats from the FBI, search “FBI Murder stats 2011, table 20″ and you will see that rifles as a murder weapon are an incredibly small percentage of all murders in ALL states. You have a better chance of someone beating you to death than dying by rifle, let alone a semi-automatic large capacity rifle. I call BS on this canard. When will we learn to use the statistics readily available to call the liberals “lying liars and crap weasels”, thanks Michelle Malkin for coining this phrase.

    Report this comment

    dmerwin  
  • OlefromMN
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:04pm

    The public schools in my town have had them for years. Not sure what all the fuss is about from the left other than they hate for good logical ideas from the right to ever see the light of day in the media.

    Report this comment

    OlefromMN  
  • Keatonc33
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:57pm

    So looks like The majority of Americans favor gun control in all ways… you’re move congress!

    Report this comment

    Keatonc33  
  • mikegray24
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:56pm

    When I first the proposal, I was initially supportive. But then I thought about it more and I just don’t think it’s a good idea. Not because I don’t want guns in/near schools. In fact, I’d let teachers who are licensed to carry concealed carry their weapons on school grounds. My feeling is that we really don’t need to be teaching kids fear of something that’s as common as being struck by lightning. I came from one of the last generations of “duck and cover” in the 1980′s and I can tell you that as much as they tried to not scare kids, the thought of being burnt up in a nuclear explosion was not very comforting for a young child.

    Young children can’t grasp the ideas and logic the same way adults do and I just think it’s a bad idea to plant those seeds of fear. That doesn’t mean you don’t teach them what to do if something bad happens. But having visibly armed guards around gives the impression of imminent danger. And, as I said, these are very, very uncommon occurrences. Let the teachers and other school employees carry concealed and call it a day.

    Report this comment

    mikegray24  
    • soybomb315_II
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:25pm

      kids are still way more likely to die in the school bus than at school. Has anyone calculated the cost of 2-3 full time guards at every school in the country? How are we going to pay for it?

      Report this comment

      soybomb315_II  
    • mikegray24
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:40pm

      It wasn’t my intent to debate the logistics of the proposal, Soy. I was only approaching the issue from a philosophical angle. Your point is valid. However, while I agree with you (as I said, I also philosophically oppose the measure), the fact is, if it’s worth doing, we could find a way to pay for it without debt

      If a school feels like it needs armed guards, then it’s up to them to fund it. Let people put their money where their mouths are and take a hit on property taxes for it. We certainly don’t need yet another ineffective federal program that might have unintended negative consequences. But on a town by town basis, if they want to pay for it, then I’m not going to stand in their way. Except in my own town where I, of course, would fight it.

      Report this comment

      mikegray24  
    • soybomb315_II
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:56pm

      yea we are on same page – wanted to expand the weight of reason

      clearly it is a state and local issue….Which makes what the NRA said about armed guards in every school so bizarre

      Report this comment

      soybomb315_II  
    • mikegray24
      Posted on January 15, 2013 at 1:13am

      I’m fairly certain that the NRA was just trying to find something that sounds good that they can get people behind so that they can deflect some of the damage that the gun grabbers are hitting us with. I’m not saying it’s completely disingenuous but I’m saying that they found something that lets them defend against the accusation that they have no solutions to offer to solve the “problem.” Maybe they seriously believe it will work and is doable, but it was a carefully chosen idea.

      I’m a life member and I appreciate what they’re trying to accomplish but it’s just not a good idea on several fronts.

      Report this comment

      mikegray24  
  • American2012
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:46pm

    Majority of Americans… huh not even 55% of voters show on election day..lol

    Report this comment

    American2012  
  • dublinthewagons
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:46pm

    Armed guards in schools might work. It could stop radical teachers from brainwashing our children.
    Just joking¿¿¿¿
    Well maybe

    Report this comment

    dublinthewagons  
  • Al J Zira
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:39pm

    The Pew poll also found that 80 percent of people favored preventing people with mental illnesses from getting guns

    I’m sorry, I don’t own a gun. But don’t they do this already when you apply for a permit? In the case of Sandy Hook there’s no check or database you can keep that would have prevented that tragedy. The guy stole the guns from his mother, just like felons will steal their guns while the assault ban is in place.

    Report this comment

    Al J Zira  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:53pm

      All ‘gun laws’ the lawbreakers come up with in DC are illegal,they’re designed to restrict access to law abiding citizens,they infringe on our right and they’ve been doing it since the second amendment was written. If this collectivist government thought it had half a chance for a total gun ban Barry would try it because he knows an armed citizenry is a threat to his tyrannical regime.
      He doesn’t care about us serfs he only cares about maintaining power and control over us,he’s ruling not governing.

      Report this comment

      progressiveslayer  
    • dublinthewagons
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:56pm

      Late term abortion on all progressives no mater what their age, would keep guns out of the hands of the mentally I’ll. Problem solved I’ll send you a bill.

      Report this comment

      dublinthewagons  
    • AxelPhantom
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:10pm

      They ask you if you have ever sought counciling, but you could have gone to one, paid out of pocket and there would be no record of it. The question is self policed and someone who is sick is not beyond lying to cover it up. Unless they are symptomatic, or the gun seller is on the ball, someone could slip through.

      So follow the line of logic there. It is a “loophole” that they will try to close probably using Obama care to do it. Now all of your medical records and prescribed medications will have to be reviewed before the background check comes out clean and you are allowed to purchase a fire arm. I wonder who will get to decide what “conditions” besides mental health will come into play. Ambien, seizure meds, pain killers for arthritis, meds for ADD…..just wait, its coming.

      Report this comment

      AxelPhantom  
  • moderateliberal
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:39pm

    nice headline. highlights the 10% of the poll that gut nuts will agree with. The test of Blaze readers is how to use this poll to PROVE that one part, but then claim that the rest of the poll is a liberal plant and part of Obama’s plan to take over the world.

    Report this comment

    moderateliberal  
    • Silvertruth
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:51pm

      You can’t use a poll to prove anything. Polls are opinion and opinion is not proof.

      You can read into this poll anything you want. Like the article says, that people taking the poll clearly have no clue what they are talking about. They are just giving an opinion based on media related bias. Nothing has changed (gun wise) in the last two decades but a similar poll back then would have overwhelming numbers the other way. People aren’t smarter about firearms, the media is just telling them something different today than what they were told yesterday.

      The Second Amendment isn’t up for debate. It was debated over 200 years ago. If you want to have American Revolution Take 2 or Civil War Take 2 (take your pick), you go ahead and go for those guns… this is an inane ‘debate’ at the core so trying to mock the side with the firearms seems rather foolhardy.

      Report this comment

      Silvertruth  
    • civilwarcometh
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:55pm

      Most of america doesn’t even know what the Constitution say’s and don’t know their right’s. So yes the poll is flawed. Anyone who has read the Constitution and has a 5th grade education understand’s the 2nd Amendment. All gun laws are unconstitutional. There’s no such thing as an illegal gun or gun sale to a U.S. citizen..

      Report this comment

      civilwarcometh  
    • Fubared
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:57pm

      I personally am truly a nut for guts. Alas, hunting season is short. Oh, and there is no such thing as a moderate lib. Cheers.

      Report this comment

      Fubared  
    • Keatonc33
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:58pm

      HAHA true that!

      Report this comment

      Keatonc33  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:01pm

      What’s a gut nut fool? How long did it take for big government lovers like you to force government health care on a once constitutional republic? It took roughly a century for progressives to force their BS on us. It’ll be the same thing with firearms,they’ve been chipping away at an actual right not some made up right to a job,house and health care. Our right to bear arms will be killed off slowly over time,the progs will continue their assault on our right until they eliminate that right but it won’t work out for them,not this one.

      Report this comment

      progressiveslayer  
  • piper60
    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 7:34pm

    I agree with the NRA. I would take it one step further. Say yo have 30 teachers. Have all get concealed carry training. Have the school hand out 5 guns per month, changing the teachers carrying each month, and DON’T tell anybody which teachers are required to do this during the month. This would keep the potential perps guessing as to who is armed, and who is not. I’d imagine that this would discourage a lot of gun slingers from trying to shoot up our schools.

    Report this comment

    piper60  
    • Keatonc33
      Posted on January 14, 2013 at 9:49pm

      why not arm the kids! lets just make guns mandatory for everyone! what could go wrong?

      Report this comment

      Keatonc33  

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