IPFS News Link • Gun Rights
IPFS News Link • Gun Rights
We knew distrust of government was high. But a new poll shows that suspicion reaching new levels.
According to a survey from Fairleigh Dickinson University, nearly a
third of registered voters -- 29 percent -- believe an "armed
revolution" might be necessary in the next few years in order to protect
liberties.
The poll from the university's PublicMind explored perceptions
regarding Congress' latest gun control push as well as the Sandy Hook
mass shooting. That legislative push, launched in the wake of the
Connecticut shooting, fizzled last month after the Senate blocked a bill
that would have expanded background checks.
The poll showed 50 percent of voters still believe Congress should
pass laws to protect the public from gun violence, while 39 percent say
the opposite. But there is a huge partisan divide. Among Republicans, 65
percent don't see new laws as necessary.
And the survey could help explain why applications for gun permits
have hit record highs and retailers report ammo has been flying off the
shelves. Not only are gun owners worried about new gun laws, but the
poll suggests some voters think a revolution could be on the horizon.
Asked whether an armed revolution might soon be necessary to protect liberties, 29 percent said yes.
Another 47 percent said no, while the rest were either unsure or declined to answer.
Of those who said yes, 44 percent were Republicans. Most of those who
said yes also did not support more gun control legislation.
The poll of 863 registered voters was conducted April 22-28. It had a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.