William Shatner in Twilight Zone episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" • Shadow & Substance
While reflecting on the Briggs-Tabarrok Effect, I stumbled across a shocking Gallup survey. Back in 1959, Gallup started asking a random sample of Americans the following question:
What about the possession of pistols and revolvers -- do you think there should be a law which would forbid possession of this type of gun except by the police or other authorized person?The question was slightly changed over the years. Since 1980 it's been:
Do you think there should or should not be a law that would ban the possession of handguns, except by the police or other authorized persons?The current breakdown is just what Europeans would expect of Cowboy Nation. Only 25% of Americans say "Yes, should be" - versus 74% who say, "No, should not be." But if you think this reflects a long-standing American tradition, you're dead wrong. Back in 1959, the breakdown was 60% yes, 36% no. Support for gun-grabbing fell almost non-stop during the ensuing decades, with just one odd reversal in 1979. The full survey history, 1959-2013:
Getting the message yet?
ReplyDeleteNo, I ask you if you're getting the message yet? We aren't after total civilian disarmament. You like to pretend we are in order to play the persecuted victim.
DeleteThis question is about a handgun ban- which you were for in Chicago and DC.
DeleteMikeb,
Delete1. I don't believe you. I never will until you declare your belief that owning and carrying guns is a basic right and work to support the same. Then I'll guardedly believe only you and continue to doubt your fellow travellers.
2. The message is that your side is decades late to the party. You had your chance, but you failed. The party's over now. We're cleaning up, and you weren't invited, but there might be a beer left in the refrigerator.
I was "for [handgun bans] in Chicago and DC, is that right, TS? I think you're making that up.
DeleteRight. If I go back in the archives looking for discussion on Heller and McDonald, I'll find oodles of support from you regarding the citizens of Chicago and DC being able to own handguns. And I'll never find anything in the blog about you wanting to see the ruling reversed when Hillary replaces those right-wing judges.
DeleteAnd when I asked you how you would have voted on Prop H in San Francisco 2005 had you lived there- I am mistaken that you said "yes" because I have such a "shitty memory". Right?
I'm sure you're right, TS. I do find it hard to disagree with any gun control measure. And I may have expressed support for those extreme examples in the past. But, I've also made it abundantly clear that I don't support total civilian disarmament. Do you agree with Greg that I'm lying about that?
DeleteYes, people are nuttier than fifty years ago, but that's a given if you have been paying attention, which you have not.
ReplyDeleteHow about answering my questions about your criminal statements, coward liar? Not a chance from a coward like you.
Now compare to the number of shootings per year since '59...
ReplyDeleteBaldr,
DeleteI haven't been able to find anywhere that tracks that back to then. I did find a source that cites the FBI crime stats as its source. And the numbers match for the year 2012 with the FBI's website.
I decided to use homicide and aggravated assault since those numbers are more likely to be affected by firearms use.
1960 Homicide 5.1 per 100k, aggravated assault 86.1 per 100k
2012 Homicide 4.7 per 100k, aggravated assault 242.3 per 100k
What is interesting is that the following changes that have taken place during this period. Some that get mentioned here a lot is
That the percentage of households with guns is going down according to polls. There is disagreement on that claim, including me, but lets just say for a minute its true.
We have an expansion of gun laws restricting gun ownership. The gun control act of 1968, the Brady Bill, The Laughtenburg Act, and likely some others I've forgotten. And those are all federal laws so no issues with state lines.
And yet, over the span of fifty years, there is little change in the homicide rate, and a quite hefty increase in the agg assault rate.
So, to review, claimed gun ownership goes down, federal gun laws get more restrictive over a period of 50+ years and violent crime most likely to involve guns changes very little in one case, and increases big time in the other case.
Some would suggest a correlation here. I'm not seeing anything supporting the more laws, less crime belief.
Homicide rates:
Delete1959: 4.9
2012: 4.7
Do you have a point?
"I did find a source that cites the FBI crime stats as its source. And the numbers match for the year 2012 with the FBI's website."
DeleteMy apologies, I forgot the data source,
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm
Greggy: That's because more people per capita owned guns in 1959 than today.\
ReplyDeleteSheesh, I'll bet Greggy's checkbook looks like a 10-year-old girl's diary.