Faith

This Is Where Catholics, Protestants & the Religious Stand on Gun Control (You Might Be Surprised!)

This Is Where Religious People Stand on Gun Control Laws

FILE

In the days and weeks following the horrific “Batman” movie theatre shooting in Aurora, Colorado, and the Sikh temple tragedy in Wisconsin, gun control has been an issue up for debate and discussion. As the dispute intensifies over how politicians and law enforcement officials should handle firearms regulations, there’s an interesting new poll out that explores what people of faith think about the issue.

The study, conducted by Public Religion Research Institute and Religion News Service (RNS), came up with some fascinating findings. While the nation is divided (and views on firearms are somewhat tough to gauge overall), religious groups have very clear opinions on the matter.

First, let’s look at Americans on the whole. In the wake of these tragedies, 52 percent of the nation is content with the notion of stricter gun laws, compared to 44 percent that is not. But when you start diving into the subgroups, results turn down-right interesting. For example, while 51 percent of whites own guns, only 23 percent of non-whites have them in their possession.

This Is Where Religious People Stand on Gun Control Laws

Photo Credit: Public Religion Research Institute/RNS

But the intrigue doesn’t end there. On the faith front, only 35 percent of white evangelicals support stricter gun laws. That’s starkly different when compared to 62 percent of Catholics and 60 percent of individuals who count themselves unaffiliated to a particular faith.

Black Protestants are even more ardent about strengthening gun control laws. As RNS notes, a 2011 ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 71 percent of this cohort wants to tighten up the laws that are currently on the books. RNS continues, with some of the reasons why these proportions may be playing out:

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest who called for tighter gun control after the movie theater massacre last month, offered several reasons why U.S. Catholics may be more likely to support it.

“Catholics may congregate more in urban centers and may be more exposed to violent crimes than people in other parts of he country,” said Martin, the author of “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything.”

“And Catholics might be more sympathetic to government regulation, because the church has always seen legitimate government as one way of expressing the will of the people,” Martin continued. What’s more, he said, “there might be a slightly greater appreciation for the notion of the common good, which is enshrined in Catholic social teaching, in addition to individual rights.”

Certainly, one can argue for gun control as a primary factor in crime reduction, but when asked to select the single most important “thing” that could end mass shootings, there was no consensus. On the whole, 27 percent of Americans (no specific cohort, but the nation as a whole) said that gun control is the most important, 22 percent said that it is increased mental heath screening and 20 percent claimed that placing more emphasis on God and morality is the answer.

This Is Where Religious People Stand on Gun Control Laws

Photo Credit: Public Religion Research Institute/RNS

We’ll allow the Public Religion Research Institute to tell you some of the more fascinating findings among specific subgroups in this portion of the study:

  • Members of the Tea Party movement are three times more likely than Americans overall to say that allowing more private citizens to carry guns for protection is the most important thing that can be done to prevent shootings (35% vs. 11%).
  • Democrats are roughly three times more likely than Republicans to say that stricter gun control laws and enforcement is the most important measure to prevent mass shootings (38% vs. 13%).
  • Close to 4-in-10 (36%) white evangelicals say that placing more emphasis on God and morality in school and society is the most important thing that can be done to prevent mass shootings.

The study was conducted between August 8 and August 12, 2012 among a random sample of 1,006 adults aged 18 and older. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points at the 95% level of confidence.

You can read the rest of the results here.

(H/T: Religion News Service)

–

RELATED:

Comments (306)

1 2 3 ... 8
  • ICanComment
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:31am

    Anyone else cringe when observing the stock photo above the link to this story? He’s about to shoot his foot off.

    Report Post »  
  • louise
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:28am

    Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts.

    Report Post » louise  
  • txbigfoot
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:26am

    seriously 1,000 people. This is not wroht the tree it was killed for.
    Junk science.

    Report Post » txbigfoot  
    • oldduffer
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:07am

      900 were from the last Obama rally. 100 were sane and loved their families and country enough to defend it. Those 100 were from the Republican rally and the guy ran out of poll sheets or he wouldv’e had another 9900 more.

      Report Post »  
  • togjr9
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:19am

    Catholic, Conservative & Armed! The only worthy “Gun-Control” is hitting your target. On a serious note, you can get any poll results you want by asking the right people in a room. As for the child molesting remark, really? My friend was shot and killed by a black man, is it justified for me to listen to Biden and “Chain” all them n****** up or judge people on individual merit. Love All, Accept Everyone & Live Well.

    Report Post » togjr9  
    • 2conservative
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:28am

      Right on….I don’t really trust any polls because as you say, you can skew results by ‘picking’ respondents or ‘picking’ questions….like when was the last time you beat your wife Harry??’

      Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:46am

      Out of curiosity TOGGJR9, do you also consider yourself “pro-life”?

      Report Post »  
    • Gr8ful1jim
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:46am

      Ditto for me…Catholic, conservative, and armed. And yes, I am Pro-life.

      Report Post » Gr8ful1jim  
    • Judeo_Christian
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:03am

      Pencilneck…I am Catholic, Pro life and obviously very conservative. There is no conflict here. God’s greatest gift to us is our life. It is our responsibility to protect His gift with zeal. Whether the innocent life of the person is in the womb or outside of the womb, we are to protect it. Once that a person attempts to harm me or my family, they are no longer innocent and I have the God given right to protect myself, up to and including taking of the assailant’s life if that is necessary.

      I feel for your family. You’d rather watch them die or be raped. How sad for you.

      Report Post » Judeo_Christian  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:17am

      @Publius

      You’re making a false analogy. Being pro life doesn’t mean that you believe that you do not have a right to protect yourself against aggressive sociopaths. Where do you people even conceive of such an absurdity?

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • togjr9
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 1:09pm

      Pro-Life of course. Unborn children have never done anything that I would have to protect myself from them. Being a Conservative and Catholic I feel all life is sacred, but also feel our government has no say in any of these matters. Don’t get excited yet, I also feel my tax & charity dollars shouldn’t goto any organization that engages in this practice. I can control where my charitable contributions go ,I shouldn’t have to pay taxes to a government that makes these moral decisions for me (Go build a bridge or a road). If someone chooses to KILL an unborn child for no other reason than it’s an unwanted pregnancy then it is not for me to judge, GOD will handle that one. On the other hand, if someone chooses to harm my loved ones for any reason, I will be judge, jury and executioner. Never mistake Pro-Life for Pro-Lamb, the strong should always protect those who can’t protect themselves.

      Report Post » togjr9  
    • bluegrandma52
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 1:26pm

      @Conservative2. the quote is “Have you stopped beating your wife? Answer yes or no.” Groucho Marx. Wickedly funny guy.

      Report Post »  
    • Balrog28
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 1:52pm

      @TOGJR9
      Amen brother – Amen!
      @Publius
      Do you actually use your brain – or do you just see two or three words and try to connect them in some way that only makes sense in your head? It seems interesting that you respond to most all topics on this site, but yet most of your posts are simply one-liners and/or are pretty much always inflammatory remarks. But maybe you’re just a troll…

      Report Post » Balrog28  
    • boyd9
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:51pm

      More and more I am beginning to subscribe to the “everyone should be armed” theory. That way the bad guy is ALWAYS killed, justice is swift, and we save a lot of money on trials and lawyers. If two or three of the Sikhs or Batman movie theater goers had been carrying concealed weapons, the deaths of innocents would have been significantly reduced and the state of Colorado would not be spending a ton of taxpayer money trying to figure out what was in that loons head–I don’t really care, the fact is he should be here among people who have respect for life. I have always believed if the deer were armed there would be far fewer deer hunters. The ONLY way to reduce gun crime or crime in general for that matter is to arm large numbers of law abiding citizens. As usual the progressives/socialists/liberals have a point of view exactly opposite of what the truth is. The truth is that we have laws against drugs–there are still drugs, we have laws against prostitutes, there are still prostitutes, and we have laws against murder and there are still murders. NO law can stop people from doing what people have a mind to do. All these laws and regulations do is restrict the freedom of good and decent people.

      Report Post »  
  • Displacedsoutherner
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:12am

    So if you’re a burglar head into a white liberal neighborhood, a suburb with lots of Toyota Prius’s in driveways would do nicely; there you don‘t need to worry about getting shot while practicing your trade and you’ll have at least 20 minutes to work before the police arrive. No need to be armed because your victims won’t be.

    Find a fence who likes to move Apple products and you’re all set.

    Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:47am

      And yet, it’s funny how exactly these liberal neighborhoods and even liberal cities have seen the greatest decrease in crime over the last decade.

      Report Post »  
    • Popp40
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:04am

      Like those liberal cities Chicago, New York, and Detroit…yea they have seen a decrease in crimes and murders…

      Report Post »  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:15am

      @pencil
      Actually you are wrong.Most cities that have seen a decrease in crime were conservative or independant.There has also been a reduction of people in this country.In some cases certain individuals have been jailed.That alone in some medium and small towns is enough to drop the gun related crime to a minimum or even halt it totally[small town].
      Last but not least by a longshot.Cities finally stopped prosecuting the non crime of self defense.Remember those stastics were previously incorporated even though self defense isn’t a crime.
      Please stop cherry picking stats in order to make your argument.

      Report Post »  
    • Judeo_Christian
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:36am

      Pencilneck….In every state where Concealed Carry Laws went into effect, violent crimes went down dramatically. These are the results from the FBI…If you have a problem with the results, you can talk to them. At least I supply the source for the facts that I post. How about you.

      That violent crimes went down in your neighborhood….you can thank me. Come on… I know you want to do it. Say thank you!!!

      Report Post » Judeo_Christian  
    • ThatsJustCrazyTalk
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:21am

      PubliusPencilman
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:47am

      “And yet, it’s funny how exactly these liberal neighborhoods and even liberal cities have seen the greatest decrease in crime over the last decade.”

      Actual FACTS which godless Leftists are so allergic to (source http://www.examiner.com/article/crime-rates-liberal-cities-shockingly-higher-than-conservative-cities):

      The 10 most liberal cities in the US:

      - Detroit, Michigan – 24 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Gary, Indiana – 15 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Washington, DC – 13 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Oakland, California – 16 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Newark, New Jersey – 11 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Flint, Michigan – 24 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Cleveland, Ohio – 14 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Hartford, Connecticut – 13 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Baltimore, Maryland – 15 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - New Haven, Connecticut – 15 violent crimes/1,000 residents

      The 10 most conservative cities in the US:

      - Orange, California – 1 violent crime/1,000 residents
      - Provo, Utah – 2 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Plano, Texas – 2 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Mesa, Arizona – 4 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Arlington, Texas – 5 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Peoria, Arizona – 2 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Escondido, California – 4 violent crimes/1,000 residents
      - Gilbert, Arizona – 1 violent crime/1,000 residents
      - Abilene, Texas – 5 vi

      Report Post »  
    • caddy527
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:27pm

      I get your point but if you pick my driveway with the Prius you’ll only get about 20 seconds. I love it I drive a Prius with an NRA license plate. Draws a lot of looks.

      Report Post » caddy527  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:09am

    Fo SURE, I do not agree with the information presented in the chart! Very much misleading???????????

    Report Post »  
  • Larryjr
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:02am

    3 things regarding this story – I didn’t see any mention of education. If we actually educated people (in the media, in schools, etc) regarding gun crimes this poll would be a mute point because criminals use guns illegally. Therefore, stricter gun laws will never stop CRIMINALS from committing crimes. Secondly, our morals have and our declining. Therefore, absolutely putting an emphasis on God and morality will help, not only lower gun crime, but all crime in general. Thirdly, when law abiding citizens anywhere are armed, it will always lower crime. Armed law abiding citizens is a huge determent to criminals. If you were a criminal planning a crime and you had a choice of 2 spots to commit the crime; 1 was full of armed citizens and 1 was full of unarmed citizens, which location would you choose? Well I don’t need to explain anymore.

    Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:51am

      Haha. I love how you folks always drone on and on about “law abiding citizens,” as if this was something tattooed on certain people’s foreheads.

      For quite a few of the recent massacres, the perpetrator was “law abiding” up to when they started shooting. Everybody starts out law abiding.

      Report Post »  
    • jcldwl
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:56am

      You are right on point. I hate when I can‘t avoid entering a location that advertises they don’t want you bringing your concealed carry in. Needless to say I pay no heed to their signs because I know those are very unsafe places to be and I stay in them for as little time as possible. I don’t eat at any restaurants that post those signs. I don’t leave my house unarmed. I also always assume the businesses that post the signs are owned by whacko liberals anyway so I don’t really care to give them my business as it is.

      Report Post » jcldwl  
    • Judeo_Christian
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:31am

      Pencilneck…I guess I need to get my guns worked on. If all they do is kill people, mine must be broke. They haven’t shot or killed anyone since I bought them. Some of them I bought 30 years ago. How could I have let this go so long without letting my guns fulfill their full potential?

      Silly me, I guess I thought it was my respect for God’s law, other people, and for the laws of the land that I haven’t shot or killed anyone.

      Report Post » Judeo_Christian  
    • SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:37am

      @ PUBLIUS….Your false assertion that “shooters” start out law abiding is a fallacious statement because you assume that their criminal behavior would be averted if they were not able to legally obtain friearms. That is quite an illogical assumption since the person obviously demonstrates the will and volition to break more serious laws then logically it would be assumed they would have no problem breaking a more minor law regarding gun ownership. That would be like stating the bank robber was law abiding right up until the time he decided to rob the bank, therefore if we just had strictor gun control laws the bank robbery would have never happened. I hardly think if he was intent on robbing a bank that he would have trouble getting a gun illegal because he would be breaking gun ownership laws. Not logical at all my friend. Thank you….

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
    • bluegrandma52
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 1:33pm

      Publius, you are a master at pointing out the obvious….and then drawing the wrong conclusions. There hasn‘t been an infant yet who’s been arrested for anything. But when seemingly “law abiding” persons decide to cross the line, it is better for the ones who have decided to continue being law abiding to be able to protect themselves from the wolves who have “come out” about their lawlessness. Most evil is under the radar, until it isn’t.

      Report Post »  
    • CharlesMartel
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:49pm

      Nazi Germany had “law abiding citizens” and “gun control”.

      Report Post » CharlesMartel  
  • bikerdogred1
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:01am

    Some one please ask Biden how many blacks live near his home.

    Report Post »  
  • lel2007
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:00am

    Ever since Cain bashed Abel’s head in with a rock man has never failed to find tools of death and destruction. Timothy McVeigh chose fuel oil and fertilizer, Bill Ayers (obama’s BFF) and his Weathermen gang preferred to stuff pipes with explosives, airplanes were the preferred tool some years back, bottles filled with flammable liquid are ever popular, mixing chlorine and bleach makes poison gas, stones are still thrown today though knives are more personal, and beating people with bare fists and shoe is becoming popular again. People intent on death and destruction will find an available tool for the task. ( I think I’d prefer to be shot rather than have my throat slit with a knife, but that’s a personal choice).

    Report Post » lel2007  
    • Larryjr
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:06am

      Right on, right on, right on. But keep in mind you‘re making sense so a lot of people won’t understand…

      Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:53am

      Yes, but an assault rifle kills a lot more people a lot faster. Are you suggesting that there is no difference between someone with a gun and someone throwing a rock?

      Report Post »  
    • Judeo_Christian
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:02am

      Pencilneck…drunks kill people with their cars. Using your logic, when are you going to give up your car? Fast cars are capable of killing people people faster… Let’s go after them first!

      Moron!

      Report Post » Judeo_Christian  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:26am

      @pencilmen
      Yes there is a big difference.Being stoned to death is slow torturous and barbaric,In the hands of someone well trained, a bullet is swift and effecient.Guns don’t kill people. People kill People.Guns knives and a whole assortment of tools don’t by themselves do one damn thing.Ironically or not all those who have ever wished to disarm the American public [and most definitely me personally]have an evil intent and wish to commit very barbaric crimes against them.They didn’t want the american public to be able to defend themselves.In this is included liberals criminals and EOS.So tell me which camp are you in?

      Report Post »  
    • lel2007
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:10am

      The Colorado murderer could have planted explosive and set fires at the exists. I suspect he got more gratification pulling the trigger on individuals. I think his act was one of rage, not a mission to efficiently kill as many as possible. Regardless, were there no guns available he would have found a way to raise hell.

      Report Post » lel2007  
    • lel2007
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:24am

      Pretend for a moment firearms are non-existent. Does anyone suppose everything would be sunshine and bluebirds?
      The New Black Panthers : “We give them 24 hours in South Africa to get out of town by sundown. I say, if they don’t get out of town, we kill the men, we kill the women, we kill the children, we kill the babies, we kill the blind, we kill the cripple, we kill the crazy, we kill the fa**ots, we kill the lesbians, I say god dammit we kill them all. If they are white kill ‘em all.”
      Lucky for us Americans we have the kinder gentler Black Panthers.

      Report Post » lel2007  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:56am

      @Publius

      Oh my, you really are uneducated on firearms aren’t you?

      Did you know, for example, that the Colorado madman’s “assault weapon” (which he did not have, assault weapons are select fire) jammed after 2 shots. That’s right, 2 shots. He murdered those folks with a shotgun. A good old fashioned “grandpa owned one” shotgun.

      Just a quick note, when you spew laughable terms such as “assault weapon” when you actually mean “semi-automatic firearm”, to a group of ardent gun owners, you make yourself out immediately to be both a fool and a tool.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • cloudsofwar
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:59am

    hey ted, you sure do hate catholics. go back to Huff Po.

    Report Post »  
  • cloudsofwar
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:55am

    another BS poll. of course the TEA party is the most armed and pro gun.

    Report Post »  
    • TAXEVERYONE
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:10am

      Catholics helped elect Obama, of course they will support gun control, even though he has thrown them under the bus.
      These are not the same Catholics I grew up with, they are more like sheep.

      Report Post » TAXEVERYONE  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:31am

      @taxeveryone
      It doesn’t surprise me.They were sheep in ww2 and right afterward too.The catholic shurch gave santuary to fleeing nazis.They aided and abbeted.Most american catholics didn’t know that at the time.For that matter most european catholics didn’t either.I’d like to think if they had of they would have raised he!!.That they would have found a way to stop it, rather than participate in it.

      Report Post »  
    • daveycrokett
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:10am

      Catholic conservative and armed, when I went to catholic school we were taught the crusades were right and just..onward Christian soldiers.. Most of todays catholics vote demoncrat and are sheep..
      You can not be catholic and pro-abortion

      Report Post »  
    • qz2026
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 5:45pm

      @DAVY – Actually the Crusades wasn’t necessarily a religious war. It began when European kings got tired of being invaded by Muslims. The Crusades marched to the borders to kick the jihadists out and then followed to Jeruselum to rid it of the Muslims. The second part didn’t work out too well for even today the Muslims pretty much own Jeruselum and have been successful at invading Europe using a smiley face.

      Report Post »  
  • Truth4SureNuff
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:52am

    I think we should ban soccer moms from driving SUVs I am sure they have injured or killed many more than guns

    Report Post »  
  • NurseHatchetRN
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:51am

    That’s funny about Catholics… everyone is CC carry in my Parish, including the Priest.

    Report Post » NurseHatchetRN  
    • ICanComment
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:24am

      Ditto. Although I’m not Catholic, I know a bunch of Catholics who are packing regularly. Many of them served in one of the Branches.

      Report Post »  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 3:14pm

      I’m Catholic and the regulars who attend my church are Christian conservative. It’s those who attend church regularly who tend to be conservatives.

      Report Post »  
  • Truth4SureNuff
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:48am

    those darn WHITE people again owning guns, wanting to protect their families from other whites and all those other colors whom we know NEVER carry guns without permits.LOL

    Report Post »  
    • ICanComment
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:30am

      @Truth4SureNuff

      …and of course they’ll freely tell you if they are in possession of said “legal” and “officially registered” firearms.

      [squealing tape sound] “Statistics don’t lie, but liars use statistics.”

      Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:57am

      And where do you think those guns come from in the first place? They don’t grow in trees my friend.

      Report Post »  
    • Popp40
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:09am

      Publiuspencilman….you do realize that over 400,000 guns are smuggled into the USA illegally each year. So if you ban them in America….they will still get in here. Have you ever heard of the Black Market?

      Report Post »  
  • Lee_in_PA
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:45am

    Not all Catholics.. they didn’t ask my opinion.

    Report Post » Lee_in_PA  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:53am

      Jesuits should change their name. They follow Marx, not Jesus.

      Report Post »  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:57am

      same here.

      Report Post »  
    • mficentral
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:11am

      They didn’t ask me either.

      Report Post »  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:42am

      My ancestors immigrated from Irleand to escape the tyranny of John Bull and the Church of England. America promised freedom of religion and the means to protect that freedom. I will never vote for gun control because it is the road to subjugation.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
  • FlagWavingPatriot
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:45am

    The idea of gun control is an irrational response to something unsavory in the environment.

    Pools kill more kids than do guns. So do falls (like falling down the stairs). And cars kill WAY more than all those put together.

    You’re much more likely to be killed in a car crash on your way to a movie than to be shot while at the movie. That’s reality.

    Liberalism is a mental disease. They operate on emotion, not rational thought.

    Report Post »  
    • exblackbird
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:50am

      in 2010, almost 33,000 people were KILLED in automobile accidents. what draconian measures are going to be instituted to stop that………….nationwide speedlimits of 20 MPH ??

      Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:56am

      The difference is that when a car kills someone, it’s an accident. When a gun kills someone, it’s what the weapon was designed for.

      Now, if they made a car that was designed specifically for running people down and killing them, they would justifiably outlaw it. That just makes sense.

      Report Post »  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:39am

      No pencilman you are wrong.The only accident is one of manufacturs defect.The rest are crashes for various reasons.Cars can most definitely be used as weapons ,even though they usually aren’t.While a gun is designed to kill, its purpose was for hunting self defense and warfare.All three of which are about survival, not cold blooded murder as you and your delusion would have us believe.

      Report Post »  
    • SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:00am

      @ PUBLIUS….Of courseguns are designed for the purpose of killing, what’s worng with that? If I were a woman and some big dude wanted to harm me what’s wrong with wanting a gun to protect myself? Or if someone threatened my family with a knife and ball bat, why wouldn’t I want a gun designed to kill? Of course you can feed yourself with guns by hunting or simply enjoy target practice or skeet shooting. Policement sure appreciate the fact that there gun was designed to harm or kill. What you fail to realize or acknowledge is that there are some very evil people out there who would like to rob, kill, and harm whenever, however they could. Guns are often our only defense against such evil. Designed purpose does not imply evil or undesirous product, in fact it can be used in a very good and right manner to ensure survival and protection. Both probably the most basic of all human rights. Just like anything guns are in themselves neither evil or good, designed for evil or good, but are either used for good or evil just like cars, computers, drugs, etc……Thank you….

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
    • goahead.makemyday
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 3:17pm

      PUBLIUSPENCILMAN
      A fork is designed to stab food but if your a cannibal you are are using it for it’s intended purpose. Bows and arrows and swords are also designed to kill, but you never hear of people crying out to ban those do you? It’s because bows arrows and swords are up to a point impractical to use for defense. As long as you hold a gun you could care less if the guy is standing 30 feet away with a sword. This is the point of dictators taking guns away from it’s general populace, show me a lifetime dictator that did not try to prevent people from owning guns. Show me where a dictatorship allowed it’s people guns when they started massacring people and cutting off food and water supplies. SHOW ME where a military took over a country that had a well armed populace without a war. Show me where the German Jews shot at the Nazi’s to prevent them from being killed. Show me where Russians had guns and stopped Stalin from killing millions. Show me all of those and I will show you how I keep my family from being killed.

      Report Post » goahead.makemyday  
    • qz2026
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 6:11pm

      Actually, an inanimate object cannot kill anything. A knife can’t kill someone, a gun can’t kill anyone, a baseball bat can’t kill anyone. Well, animals can kill people (and other animals) can’t they? Yes they can but the difference is that there is no intent or premeditated thought on the animals part. They don’t, necessarily, kill just to kill. They kill to eat. They kill to protect territories, although territorial displays and a little rough-necking usually gets it done – any deaths would likely be due to injuries and infection. They also kill to protect their young. The vast majority of killing done by animals is to fill their stomachs. And, that was God’s intent. It is only humans that intentionally kill their own and they will typically use anything at hand to do it. So, people, STOP with the gun crap. Guns don’t kill. The person pulling the trigger does the killing. When person A murders person B, then person A should be executed immediately not ten or twenty years later requiring the family of person B to pay for person A’s room and board.

      Report Post »  
  • ergo
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:43am

    That”s just ignorant! This is the kind of statement that comes from someone who reads poll numbers and believes it.

    Report Post » ergo  
  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:38am

    On any given Sunday there are about 3 CCW people in our church plus at least 2 off-duty cops that are packing. Our pastor has his CCW though, I don’t think he carries it. There is nothing wrong with protecting your church and your family. It is God ordained. Jesus told his diciples that they will need a sword. I realize he rebuked Peter for cutting of the Temple guards ear but, Peter was interfering with God’s plan of salvation. Jesus would have told Peter not to have the sword in the first place if He were against it.

    Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • bayoucastine
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:16am

      Please consider this: During the time of Jesus all of that area of the world was under Roman control. It was ILLEGAL for anyone who was not a Roman citizen to carry or own weapons of any kind. All the Disciples carried swords – concealed. Some are believed to have carried two swords – concealed. I cannot find where Jesus told the Disciples they should NOT be armed. In fact He said that if you have no sword sell your garments and buy one. It is NOT against God’s teachings/law to defend yourself, your loved ones and innocent by-standers.

      Report Post » bayoucastine  
    • SquidVetOhio
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:00am

      Well said.

      Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:38pm

      Leviticus endorses self defense against home invasion…..I agree many try to use scripture to get rid of guns when in fact it supports self defense with arms. I would go so far as to claim if a man did not protect his family aginst the evil men might otherwise do that that would be wrong and sinful before God. Thank you….

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:38am

    totally agree,and i have had enough of lying two faced commie loving idiots who want to that everyone the same way but not themselves they want their cake and eat it to i would like to shove it down their commie throats

    Report Post »  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:35am

    i am tired of polls,they are mostly done by some liberal group who has a agenda, the first thing i noticed is that whites are the one’s with the guns, and then the tea party is gun lovers,but no where is it that most young blacks and mexican gangs have guns and are killing people everyday,but when a tragedy like aurora is committed by a crazy white person, the groups want to put all whites in to a box and call for stricter gun laws, what is wrong is the system is not working on screening out the nut jobs,but if we say stricter laws are needed then we all will be put in that nut job box,you can bet that with only 1006 people polled, not one of the was a a true gun loving american who respect the law and obey them,who just want to hunt for food and protect his family, and of the 1006 pollsters none where of the young gang member type or true law abiding gun owners,just liberal lairs with a agenda.

    Report Post »  
    • Popp40
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:23am

      @ Commonsenseguy….I do my best to be open minded and accepting of everyone. However, the more I see about liberals/progressives and even democrats they are the criminals.

      They support criminals, just look at how they push for easier punishments on criminals, they support illegal immigration, and how they turn a blind eye when it comes to all the death rates in Chicago, Detriot, New York and any liberal/progessive/democratic city. They have the highest death rates yet they have the most strict gun laws.

      Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:35am

    Polls do not interest me a whole lot as they can be skewed to get the outcome the pollster wants. I will just say to the interested parties………..keep your hands off Americans right to buy and own guns and the ammunition needed to fire them.

    Report Post »  
  • biffo
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:31am

    Democrats who call themselves Catholic are ,as usual, liars. Catholics believe in the sanctity of life, honour thy FATHER and MOTHER, and the Ten Commandments. Democrats do not. They are not Catholics. Public school teachers, Police(people), etc. have the same molestation rate as any group. Only they have union supplied lawyers, privacy, counselling, paid time off. All courtesy of you, the taxpayer. You Catholic haters are only that. Paedophiles are everywhere, they ALL should be dealt with.

    Report Post »  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:09am

      @ biffo, well said. Paedophiles go where the children are. they infiltrated the catholic church an easy target. but the Catholic church is cleaning them out.

      Report Post »  
  • americansfightingforcommonsense
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:28am

    I will continue to “Cling to my guns and my Bible!” It is not a popularity thing! It IS a 2nd amendment thing! A right given to us by GOD not our government. Look at other countries, or even cities here, that have passed more restrictive gun regulations or even taken away the people’s guns completely. It’s CLEAR that when the people can not arm themselves legally that gun violence and other types of violence go way up, because the criminals don’t care what the law says and they will arm themselves. We must not let OUR government take away our guns. It WILL be the end of America as we know it.
    God Bless America!

    Report Post » americansfightingforcommonsense  
    • goahead.makemyday
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 2:58pm

      You just gave me an epiphany. What were the laws on gun control before Syria went crazy?

      Report Post » goahead.makemyday  
    • qz2026
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 5:57pm

      And… there is a really good reason why this country has never been invaded. None of these fascist cowards would ever attempt to invade an armed populace. They are all vile cowards who first disarm the population (like England), and then let the hammer down. Then they begin the atrocities that only leftists can dream up. If any country should be armed it should be the UK. They are virtually surrounded and would be Nazi‘s if it hadn’t been for us. Unfortunately no one in Europe including the UK know what real freedom and liberty is. They don’t understand us Americans very well. Why? Because they have been slaves since the onset of civilization. America was the first and only country that defined freedom and rights as coming from our Creator. Just imagine what we would be like if the king had been a nice guy. Never would have pushed us to the Constitution and Bill of Rights. That’s a pipe dream though. Dictators and kings only know how to oppress. We would have gotten around to declaring our freedom at some point.

      Report Post »  
  • infidelsaplenty
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:19am

    Who even answers questions in these polls? If someone call our house claiming to be a pollster, they hear a quick hang-up. I question the mental stability of someone who would have the time or the inclination to wade through one of those calls.

    Report Post »  
    • BeeAlert
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 8:01am

      No, I NEVER let a pollster get away without an earful of my conservative opinion! And I always talk to them in the most cheerful, engaging way that I can, probably taking up 3 times the time they usually spend on one call. Who knows, maybe we get one more convert that way?!

      Report Post » BeeAlert  
  • FightingBear
    Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:19am

    Of course the article that now begs to be researched and written is: ….of the crimes committed with guns, which sub-groups are the most represented groups on that list and the least represented groups?

    In other words, which groups of people are most likely to commit these gun crimes? Which sub-groups are least likely?

    Report Post »  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:45am

      In other words,
      If you could disarm democrats you would virtually eliminate crime.

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
    • qz2026
      Posted on August 16, 2012 at 6:13pm

      @WELCOME.. Why don’t we just eliminate Democrats – ok, ok just the Progressives.

      Report Post »  
    • scuffy
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:36am

      Agnostic, Atheist, Humanist and Liberal are more likely to kill you and its a pretty good profile !!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
1 2 3 ... 8

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love