By Dave Workman
Senior Editor
The National Shooting Sports Foundation has released the results of an early November survey that challenges the notion that an overwhelming majority of Americans want universal background checks, including at gun shows.
The scientific survey, conducted by the highly-respected firm McKeon and Associates, revealed “only four out of ten Americans support so-called ‘universal background checks’ at gun shows” after respondents were advised that the vast majority of those sales are transacted by licensed retailers who already conduct checks through the National Instant Check System (NICS).
Mike Bazinet, NSSF’s director of public affairs, told TGM that this poll, conducted Nov. 6-7 among 1,200 Americans, has a margin error of +/- 4.1 percent.
Among the findings were that 54 percent of the respondents do not think that requiring background checks between friends and family members would be effective at reducing violent crime.
“When properly informed of relevant details,” noted Larry Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel, “it turns out that only four out of ten, not nine out of ten Americans support so-called ‘universal background checks’ at gun shows or for firearms transfers. The poll also found that Americans want a National Instant Criminal Background Check System with a dependable and accurate database, which supports the goal of the FixNICS initiative we launched in 2013 and will continue in 2014.”
Perhaps as a signal of public discontent with the Obama administration’s handling of other domestic affairs, 59 percent of Americans are less likely to trust the government with an expanded background check, considering how the Obama administration has handled health care reform and spying on U.S. citizens, the survey discovered.
“This was not a push poll,” he said, and to prove it, he supplied TGM with the questions.
An overwhelming majority of respondents did not realize that when purchasing a firearm from a licensed retailer at a gun show, federal law requires an in-person FBI background check on that transaction. Fifty-three percent answered “no” and 30 percent did not know this. Gun control advocates have apparently succeeded in creating the false impression that gun show sales do not involve background checks. Once this is explained, attitudes about private transactions and gun shows change.
Here is how McKeon & Associates asked the question:
“When purchasing a gun from a licensed retailer, are you aware that federal law requires an IN-PERSON FBI background check if the gun is purchased …
- At a retail store 68% Yes; 27% No; 5% Don’t Know
- At a gun show 17% Yes; 53% No; 30% Don’t Know
- Online 52% Yes; 32% No; 16% Don’t Know
A follow-up question asked, “A vast majority of guns sold at gun shows are sold by licensed dealers who are required by federal law to conduct background checks before guns are sold. Do you believe additional federal laws like universal background checks are necessary for gun show sales?” Fifty-three percent answered “no” while 40 percent said “yes” and seven percent didn’t know.
Bazinet acknowledged that he didn’t think this poll would get much attention from the mainstream press because the results do not go along with the popular narrative that 90 percent of the public wants background checks on every firearms transaction.
Much the same thing occurred earlier this year when PoliceOne, an organization with some 400,000 registered members comprised of law enforcement professionals, did a survey to which more than 15,000 of its members responded.
In that survey, done in the spring, 71 percent of the respondents thought that a ban on the manufacture and sale of so-called “assault weapons” would have no effect on reducing violent crime. Slightly more than 60 percent thought passage of the White House’s proposed legislation would have no effect in improving officer safety.
Eighty percent of the PoliceOne respondents think casualties would be reduced if there had been legally-armed citizens present at one of the high-profile mass shootings in recent memory.
More than 79 percent did not think a federal law prohibiting private, non-dealer firearms transfers between individuals would reduce violent crime. More than 95 percent believed a ban on magazines that hold more than ten rounds would have no impact on violent crime.
Seventy percent do not support “the concept of a national database tracking all legal gun sales.” Seventy-one percent of the respondents were favorable or very favorable toward law enforcement leaders who said they would not enforce more restrictive gun laws in their jurisdictions.
A whopping 81.5 percent did not believe that gun buybacks or turn-ins have been effective in reducing so-called “gun violence.”
More than 91 percent of the officers who responded said they support concealed carry by private citizens who have not been convicted of a felony and/or not been deemed psychologically or medically incapable.
