By Dave Workman
Editor
More than half of likely U.S. voters believe the federal government should “keep track of gun ownership,” according to a new Rasmussen survey released Wednesday.
It is an alarming development suggesting that a majority of non-gun owners are willing to sacrifice the privacy rights of American citizens who exercise their Second Amendment rights.
However, Rasmussen’s poll found that 51 percent of voters “believe that, if the federal government had a list of gun owners in the United States, it is likely the government would eventually confiscate all guns.”
The survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted Nov. 14-15, with a margin of sampling error of +/- 3 percentage points.
Rasmussen revealed that 49 percent of voters either own a gun or live with someone who does. Fifty-eight percent of those voters think the federal government would eventually move to confiscate guns if a national list of gun owners existed.
“That includes 36% who think confiscation would be ‘Very Likely’,” Rasmussen’s poll found.
Among those living in “gun-free” households, a startling 46 percent think gun confiscation is “likely” of gun owners are registered, but apparently they’re not alarmed. Another 44 percent don’t believe confiscation would occur.
The poll revealed that 32 percent of survey respondents think it is “very likely that a federal listing of gun owners would lead to confiscation.”
The bottom line appears to be that a lot of people do not trust the government to leave them, and their constitutionally-protected firearms, alone, while 38 percent of survey respondents do not believe confiscation is likely, including 20 percent who say it isn’t likely at all.
Gun registration has been a hot button issue for decades, with millions of gun owners convinced registration will lead to confiscation.
A new Gallup survey, also released Wednesday, showed a stunning 88 percent of people who own firearms say personal protection is one significant reason. Gun owners also own firearms for hunting or recreational (target) shooting.
The Crime Prevention Research Center early last month updated its annual report on the estimated number of active concealed carry licenses and permits. According to the CPRC, “the number of concealed handgun permits has soared to over 21.52 million.” The research center identified 15 states where more than 10 percent of eligible adults are licensed to carry. The 75-page report says 21 states no longer require a carry permit, and identifies six states with more than 1 million permit holders: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Texas.
