If Guns Kill, then Spoons Make People Fat!
Abdul Karim Bangura
Just for the record, I want to make it abundantly clear that I am not a supporter of guns. In fact, as far as I am concerned, all guns and Obama's drones and other weapons of mass destruction should disappear from the face of our God blessed Mother Earth. I do, however, believe that the prescription that making guns less accessible will cure gun violence is a Chicken Solution. Just as we in the field of Peace and Conflict Resolution have a mantra that says "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must begin," I also believe that since gun violence begins in people's minds, it is people's minds that the cure for gun violence must begin.
As the following article shows, a majority of our American sisters and brothers support the National Rifle Association's position in the gun debate. Thus, until we can change most of our fellow Americans' attitudes toward guns, we are in for a very long struggle. Guns don't kill; it is people that kill. Thus, the most difficult and inconvenient medicine for gun violence must focus greatly on changing attitudes.
Gallup: Majority of Americans Hold Favorable View of NRA
Thursday, 27 Dec 2012 04:35 PM
By Stephen Feller
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A majority of Americans have a favorable view of the National Rifle Association, according to a new Gallup poll.
The poll also found that views of the gun advocacy group were more positive among gun owners, although owners said the NRA did not always reflect their views.
Fifty-four percent of respondents to the Gallup survey said they held a mostly favorable or very favorable view of the NRA, while 38 percent said they had a mostly unfavorable or very unfavorable view of the organization.
That is down from a high of 60 percent favorability in 2005, but still far above the low of 42 percent recorded in 1995.
Eighty-three percent of Republicans, and 71 percent of gun owners, also had a favorable view of the group, while 36 percent of Democrats and 40 percent of non-gun owners saw the NRA in a favorable light.
At least half the respondents in the poll said that the NRA "only sometimes" or "never" reflected their views on guns, whether or not a member of the household owns a firearm. Among gun owners, however, 50 percent of those participating in the poll said the group sometimes reflects their opinions.
Gallup conducted the poll of 1,038 people between Dec. 19 to 22, after the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., which left 26 people dead, but before the ambush killing of firefighters near Rochester, N.Y. The margin of error is 4 points.
© 2012 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
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