beowulf

I don't like polls or surveys regardless of what they are used for.

The only thing we really know for certain is that there has been a significant increase in NICS background checks, of which not all would result in a gun sale. Most would. So we can safely say that there has been a significant increase in gun sales. How many of them are repeat buyers or new gun buyers is not directly known. We do have anecdotal evidence of repeat gun buyers and an increase in women buying guns. I suspect that it' highly likely that there have been both repeat buyers and new buyers. Polls and surveys only reflect those that were willing to answer them. Considering the distrust that people have in the government regarding gun ownership I think it's highly likely that many people would either not participate or answer truthfully.

What makes them unreliable? Wendy P. There is no obligation to answer them truthfully or even participate.

Sure it does. It gives us an idea of the number of gun sales. You are assuming they are all repeat buyers or that people are getting rid of their guns as new gun buyers are buying gun. An assumption. No, I'm not assuming anything. I'm simply going by what we know. Increased gun sales do not imply increased gun ownership. You are assuming, without supporting evidence, that they do. Considering how many people I know who used to own a gun or two and now own small arsenals, I don't see any reason to disbelieve that gun ownership can decline while gun sales increase. While my own observations are not data, they also don't contradict data. Your observation doesn't necessarily support your conclusions. There can be an increase in repeat buyers and new buyers.

Properly conducted polls and surveys are quite credible, actually. We already covered that, though. Just because you say they are doesn't mean they are.

Sure it does. It gives us an idea of the number of gun sales. You are assuming they are all repeat buyers or that people are getting rid of their guns as new gun buyers are buying gun. An assumption. No, I'm not assuming anything. I'm simply going by what we know. Increased gun sales do not imply increased gun ownership. You are assuming, without supporting evidence, that they do. Considering how many people I know who used to own a gun or two and now own small arsenals, I don't see any reason to disbelieve that gun ownership can decline while gun sales increase. While my own observations are not data, they also don't contradict data. That is anecdotal evidence at best. It's not reasonable to think that the increased sales would not result in an increase in gun owners. Especially considering how big the increase has been in the NICS background checks. Poll's and Surveys are not reliable.

Unsubstantiated, except for the two sources I provided. Your sources are not credible. Polls and surveys can found to substantiate any claim you want. They are not credible sources of information. How many of those people lied? I think most gun owners would avoid answering a poll or survey asking about gun ownership.

Actually, it isn't remotely as good, as sources go. They quoted NICS numbers. Verify them if you think they are wrong. It doesn't matter if the article is right or wrong. It doesn't address the right question to support your claim, even if it is right. Sure it does. It gives us an idea of the number of gun sales. You are assuming they are all repeat buyers or that people are getting rid of their guns as new gun buyers are buying gun. An assumption.

Actually, it isn't remotely as good, as sources go. They quoted NICS numbers. Verify them if you think they are wrong.

What we know is that gun ownership is in a long term downward trend. If gun sales are increasing, then that means that people buying their first gun are outnumbered by gun owners either getting rid of their last gun or dying without leaving guns to non-owners. We don't know that gun ownership is decreasing. That is your unsubstantiated claim.

But a Forbes article that doesn't even examine the right question is an authoritative source? I didn't say it was authoritative. It does show a perception of an increase in women buying guns which would along with the increase in gun sales suggest that there is an increase in new gun owners. It's better then a poll or survey.

Gun sales have been up and you seem to think that's all been repeat buyers and no new buyers. That is very unlikely to be true considering that people have noticed an increase in women buying guns which would directly mean more new gun owners. I think it's not reasonable to consider that the increase in gun sales would not mean an increase in the number of new gun owners.

Well, not if you're going to ignore the fact that we already have the answer. You have shown that to be true. Survey's and polls are not reliable. Yes, and I did so by highlighting the inaccuracies of your posts. Thank you for making it easy. I meant that you had not shown that to be true. Just trotting out surveys and polls doesn't prove anything.

Well, not if you're going to ignore the fact that we already have the answer. You haven't shown that to be true. Survey's and polls are not reliable.

Much like Romney's campaign staff? They sure showed Nate Silver! No idea what you are talking about here. I don't like Mitt Romney and didn't vote for him. Didn't keep up with his campaign at all.

Right, but I suspect that many gun owners would not participate in any poll or survey asking about gun ownership. I wouldn't. Gun sales unambiguously means more guns in civilian hands. Does that translate directly to more gun owners? There isn't any way to know that answer. We aren't given that information by the FBI. I suspect that it would show an increase in gun owners. There have been recent news stories of more women buying guns. That is a sign of increased gun ownership. http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/02/06/seen-at-11-new-research-shows-gun-purchases-by-women-on-the-rise/

Gun sales would be a better number to look at. http://www.forbes.com/sites/frankminiter/2012/08/23/what-the-left-wont-tell-you-about-the-boom-in-u-s-gun-sales/

I wouldn't consider a survey to be very accurate either.

yeah, Gallup, I don't buy that. I don't consider that to be worth anything at all.

I wouldn't advocate arming everyone. I don't think we shouldn't have gun control at all. But I do think it's effectiveness is very limited. If someone wants a gun they will be able to buy one regardless of the laws. Even if Feinstein was able to get everything she wanted it wouldn't reduce the number of guns in the US by much and also wouldn't eliminate the availability of any of the banned guns. It also wouldn't reduce crime at all. It would probably increase crime.

It has been driving the rate down. Gun ownership has increased and according to the FBI violent crime has been decreasing. http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/violent-crime/violent-crime

I don't think that is likely to be true. We have seen more guns not necessarily translate to more deaths here in the US. In the States that have enacted shall issue CHL the crime has gone down. When citizens are able to arm themselves it makes crime more dangerous for the criminals.

I'm of the mind that COULD is really WILL. The crooks are gonna keep theirs now you add in the defenders of the 2nd and you have more illegal weapons...simply because you passed a "law". So how come the inverse is not also true? Legalize all guns and you'll have fewer illegal ones. Eliminate speed limits and you'll have fewer speeders. Legalize drunk driving and you'll have fewer DUIs. Same logic. Still can't come up with anything intelligent to say?!

I joined the NRA because of Obama and Feinstein. Had no real interest before all this bullshit.