Gun Background Checks

Recently Gabrielle Gifford stated that in New Hampshire 93% of Democrats, 79% of Republicans, 82% of gun owners and 60% of NRA households support background checks for those who seek to buy guns. Her numbers are correct according to an advocacy group Americans for Responsible Solutions.

It stands to reason that most folk would favor background checks no matter what their political leanings; it is just a sane way of providing some control over the proliferation of guns in our society especially by those whose backgrounds would make them high risk owners. It should be a non-issue. Why is it? Simple, the powerful NRA lobby group spends lots of its member’s money and money it gets from gun manufacturers to buy and influence congressional votes. The NRA leadership does not reflect the view of the majority of its members.

Of course folk may debate Gifford’s numbers so here is a more complete set of polls to give you a wider view.

Poll	Date	Question	Support
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research	May 21-23, 2013	"Do you favor or oppose requiring background checks on all gun sales including those sold on the Internet and at gun shows?"	• 84% (N.H.) • 93% (N.H. Dems) • 79% (N.H. GOP) • 82% (N.H. gun owners) • 60% (N.H. NRA households)
Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College	April 22-25, 2013	Poll respondents were asked if they supported or opposed universal background checks for the purchase of firearms in New Hampshire.	• 76% (N.H.) • 88% (N.H. Dems) • 63% (N.H. GOP)
Public Policy Polling	April 19-21, 2013	"Would you support or oppose requiring background checks on individuals who purchase guns at gun shows?"	• 75% (N.H.) • 95% (N.H. Dems) • 56% (N.H. GOP)
University of New Hampshire Survey Center	Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2013	"A background check on anyone attempting to purchase a gun in order to determine whether the prospective buyer has been convicted of a felony."	• 94% (N.H.) • 99% (N.H. Dems) • 92% (N.H. GOP) • 91% (N.H. gun owners)
New England College	Jan. 21-22, 2-13	"There is a national proposal for universal gun background checks for gun sales through dealers, shows, and private individuals. Do you support the idea of universal background checks for gun purchases?"	• 88% (N.H.)

This tells us Gifford’s numbers are pretty accurate. It is just another case of money overly influence congress at the expense of our citizens.