ABC Report (further to our recent Gallup Poll post)
The number of Americans who live in a household with at least one gun is
lower than it's ever been, according to a major American trend survey
that finds the decline in gun ownership is paralleled by a reduction in
the number of Americans who hunt.
According to the latest General Social Survey, 32 percent of Americans
either own a firearm themselves or live with someone who does, which
ties a record low set in 2010. That's a significant decline since the
late 1970s and early 1980s, when about half of Americans told
researchers there was a gun in their household.
The General Social Survey is conducted by NORC, an independent research organization based at the University of Chicago, with money from the National Science Foundation.
Because of its long-running and comprehensive set of questions about
the demographics, behaviors and attitudes of the American public, it is a
highly regarded source of data about social trends.
Data from the 2014 survey was released last week, and an analysis of its
findings on gun ownership and attitudes toward gun permits was
conducted by General Social Survey staff.
The drop in the number of Americans who own a gun or live in a household
with one is probably linked to a decline in the popularity of hunting,
from 32 percent who said they lived in a household with at least one
hunter in 1977 to less than half that number saying so now.
Of course the gun loons on this site have denied this consistently.
ReplyDeleteWAHHHHH Mike he called us gun loons you better do something (sarcasm)
DeleteActually I don't think "guns loons" is all that offensive. It's just a tiny bit stronger that "gun nuts," which many of you yourselves use.
DeleteHi Sammy, you're correct. I've shown why I think the claimed drop isn't accurate on previous threads. And one has but to look at what is happening with gun rights legislation to see that our elected officials recognize that people take it seriously.
ReplyDeleteI am personally doing my part to expand the number of people who own guns. I've gifted my son with a rifle, though I'm obligated to hold it for him till he come of age, it is his. My daughters are also coming along nicely in their training, though their long term interest remains to be seen and entirely up to them.
I've even taught non-family members, (soldiers don't count in this) and gotten them interested in the shooting sports. For another excellent measurement of the growth of shooting sports, has everyone noticed the growth in VERY nice indoor ranges popping up all over? Often with various shooting leagues making good use of them?
The one I go to was a closed down bowling alley, that someone made into an gun/archery range/store. If the number of gun owners is falling, where is the demand for these new facilities coming from?
And of course, there is that age old question, if its an individual right, how exactly the number of people exercising that right relevant?
Sorry SS, I'll believe reputable studies over your guesses, especially since you have been proven wrong by multiple studies, but enjoy your delusion.
Deletess, when I posted the Gallup Poll you argued that the overall trend was not significant and kept referring to just the last upward tick. Now, looking at this poll, what do you say? We're not talking about your immediate circle of family and friends, we're talking about national trends.
DeleteMike, when we discussed the Gallup poll I also brought up other evidence that led me to believe that the upward trend to be accurate. I included the data from Illinois, and the expansion of interest in shooting sports by youth.
DeleteWhen you also take into account the recent survey you posted showing a majority now prefer gun rights over gun control, it isn't a large leap. I am sort of curious about whether there are other states that use an FOID system and what the numbers look like there. Do they show similar growth as illinois? I'll have to look in on that.
Again, putting too much faith in polls is not a good thing. And if it's accurate? Doesn't really matter, because rights shouldn't be based on the percentage of the population that actually use them. If that were the case, the Fourth and Fifth Amendments should hold the power they do.
It always amazes me SS that we are supposed to believe you, a gun loon advocate, over multiple, reputable studies.
DeleteThe fact that a majority favor gun rights is normal considering it is a 2nd A right, but you can't ASSume that means they all own guns.
What has your local gun classes got to do with whether, or not gun ownership is declining across America?
Everyone gets to make the decision to believe or disbelieve what I say individually. For example, you default to disbelief even when my comment includes cited data. Instead of offering any cited data disproving mine, you use accusations and names, which does not do you credit, but that is your choice.
DeleteI found the increase in importance in gun rights over gun control coming so close to the Gallup poll showing the uptick in ownership to support the increase in ownership levels because in my opinion at least, if more people are finding more value in a right, it's more likely they'll excercise it.
Just as an increase in the importance in the First Amendment would result in an increase in excercising it.
As for my inclusion of my personal activities to promote the shooting sports, I included it to show all levels of activities that promote them. I started at the national lever, and worked down to the individual level.
By the way, I appreciate that you actually made a comment with a pretty cogent follow up question. These conversations can be much more interesting if you continue like this.
They would be much more interesting if you didn't use diversion, lies and dishonesty. Your attempt to use Minnesota as the national gauge for gun behavior is so ridiculous that you come off as nothing but a joke.
DeleteDon't forget that young Americans today are generally unable to purchase a single-family dwelling given the crushing economy and their overwhelming student debt. Goodness, gracious, even their parents have been forced into dual-income households. Couple that with the median age of marriage being somewhat higher than it was some forty years ago. I am imagining that there is a huge number of people who consider themselves lucky just to be able to rent an apartment.
ReplyDeleteThese kids can ill afford senseless luxuries such as wasting money on guns and ammunition or running up huge bills at their local shooting galleries. Most of these people are interested in starting a family, or at the very least, cultivating some type of meaningful social life.
Guns are for killing people. A bad idea. Shooting is no more affordable of a sport than polo, sailing or waterskiing. It just doesn't fit in for young people today. They are about music, community, art, restaurants and dancing. They wish to learn and make the best of themselves. Recreational sports that require physical exertion. Although I don't personally agree with it, marathons. Peace, love. That sort of thing.
Oddly enough, new demand for shooting sports seems to be coming mostly from the conservatives of our fair land. Why? What the hell are you guys thinking? I doubt that very much of the current demand has anything to do with sports whatsoever. Personal protection. That's what I'm hearing.
"Oddly enough, new demand for shooting sports seems to be coming mostly from the conservatives of our fair land. "
DeleteHowdy FJ, hope all is well with you out there in the promised land. I'd disagree with your suggestion that it's an expensive sport, or that only conservatives are into it. I seem to even recall seeing some photos of our President doing it. And considering that the last time Minnesota voted for a Republican, his name was Nixon, you could likely say the state is a bit liberal.
As for cost, have you seen the money you spend to get a kid in football? Yikes! Trap is pretty reasonable, the first half season it was just ammo, which the league gets at a discount. My son had to use a borrowed shotgun. (Wonder what the school leagues will do in Washington state). I was finally able to swing a cheap shotgun from Baldr's favorite store Walmart.
Definitely not polo level costs. The expensive shooting gallery is a free shooting range run by a local sportsman's club. And as for killing people, all they seem to shoot at are those very un-people shaped discs that fly through the air.
And then to make matters worse, my son is also a musician. Know what a cello costs? Double yikes! He played a school instrument for his first five years. So both of his interests will be able to follow him through his adult years to whatever level he wants to take them.
A cello does sound rather expensive. I saw several for sale at San Diego State University. And lessons! Oy vey.
Deletess, you seem to be downplaying the expense a bit too much. But, regardless (not irregardless, notice), the shooting sports are just simulated killing. It's sick business.
DeleteAnother thing I know you disagree with, which FJ mentioned, is that young people are not into it. Generally, I think this is true. When combined with the diminishing interest in hunting and the attrition of older gun owners dying off, you have the overall decline we keep showing you.
Of course the whole country is exactly the same as SS's little town, so when he describes what goes on in his world, that's exactly what goes on everywhere in America. HA HA HA HA HA HA
Delete"Of course the whole country is exactly the same as SS's little town"
DeleteBut as the article I cited before says, its isn't just my little town. And you laughing doesn't change that a bit.
"So successful has the program been in Minnesota that Sable and colleague John Nelson have formed the U.S. High School Clay Target League, and they are expanding the program to other states. A companion league already is underway in Wisconsin.
In Minnesota, meanwhile, so many kids are involved that about 1,800 were turned away this year, because of a capacity shortage at ranges. A recently approved $2 million legislative grant program is intended to help alleviate the deficiency."
http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/262250821.html
"ss, you seem to be downplaying the expense a bit too much."
DeleteNope, I'm not downplaying it at all. I'm saying what my experience was this last year. I'm seeing that football gear runs about $500 per year. Those kids grow a lot! The shotgun fits every year.
"I saw several for sale at San Diego State University. And lessons! Oy vey."
DeleteI got sticker shock the first time too. However, there is actually a luthier that lives near me who was able to steer me too a good basic model. I cant say I haven't been lucky with lessons. His school orchestra instructor also plays for the Minnesota Opera, he gets two private lessons a month and he plays in a separate orchestra.
I just hope I can survive him going to individual competitions. So far, he's doing one solo, and also playing in three duets. There are also scholarships out there to be had.
Whether it's true or not, there are still plenty of us to defend ourselves against the unarmed. I mean, how many of us would it take, to defeat that lot? I'm thinking maybe a half dozen or so, if they each have 60 million or so rounds of ammo.
ReplyDeleteWhatever gets you to sleep at night. But continuing to lose ground to gun rights with a shrinking ownership base must give you nightmares.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy it while you can. Your days are numbered (for increasing gun rights, that is. I didn't want anyone to think that was a personal threat).
DeleteBut you now tell us that murder rates are rising. Good luck resolving your cognitive dissonance over that combination.
ReplyDelete