CNN Poll Background Check Question Shows Respondents Skeptical

CNN recently released the results of a poll it taken from 4-8 September.   Question 14, shown in the screenshot above, has several hypotheticals that are left up to the responder to self-define.   For example, no definition of “more comprehensive” is given.   It is left to the responder to assume that “all gun sales” really means “all legal gun sales”.

Trial balloons floating about in the media have suggested that “more comprehensive” would include such things as an hour long interview with a psychologist, and the requirement for five unrelated people to give references, to include answering this question:  “Would you allow this applicant to have a gun alone with your children?”   

The poll question does not ask if the respondent would approve of such a measure or not, merely what the hypothetical effect would be of the self-defined measure. 

Significant numbers of the respondents are skeptical of the efficacy of such measures.  If you add the “somewhat likely” and “not at all likely” numbers, they are 56% for preventing those with mental health problems from “buying guns”, and 58% for preventing criminals from “buying guns”. 

The phrase “buying guns” is a way to reduce the number of skeptics.   Mentally ill people or criminals do not need to buy guns to commit criminal acts.  Adam Lanza was prevented from buying a gun by a background check.  He murdered his mother and stole her guns.  The proper wording to determine what people thought of the efficacy of the law would have been “accessing guns” or “obtaining guns” rather than “buying guns”.

Polls are used as a way to form public opinion, as much as to measure it.   Consider the following questions that were not asked:

Is requiring law abiding citizens to obtain government permission before buying a gun an infringement on Second Amendment rights? 

Should a background check law be structured so as to prevent a government database of gun owners or guns?

Much of the public is becoming more sophisticated about the word games played in these polls. 

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.  Link to Gun Watch