November 2, 2011

Record-Low Support Banning Handguns in U.S.

According to Gallup’s annual Crime Poll, conducted earlier this month, a record-low 26 percent of Americans favor a ban on the possession of handguns in the United States. When Gallup first asked Americans this question some 50 years ago, 60 percent favored banning handguns; however, since 1975, the majority of Americans have opposed such a measure, with opposition as high as 70 percent in recent years.

This data follows the release last month of FBI statistics that show for the fourth straight year sales of firearms have increased while crime has continued to decrease.

The Gallup poll also found that for the first time opposition is greater than support for a ban on semi-automatic firearms (including modern sporting rifles) with 53 percent opposed and only 43 percent supporting a ban. In the initial asking of this question in 1996, the numbers were nearly reversed, with 57 percent supporting and 42 percent against.

Perhaps Americans are realizing that the possession of firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens does not cause crime and, if anything, it helps to reduce it.

Gun control is a failed social experiment. It is time to move on.