VOTERS` VIEWS ON FIREARM OWNERS` RIGHTS AND HUNTING


The highly respected research firm Zogby International has conducted the
first installment of its 2004 Zogby Values Poll, surveying 1,200 voters
nationwide on issues that included firearms and hunting. Working with the
Tower Center for Political Studies at Southern Methodist University and
the O`Leary Report, Zogby`s questions interestingly examine differences in
thinking between people living in the states that voted for George Bush in
2000 (Red states) and Al Gore (Blue states).


Voters were asked: "Do you agree or disagree that American firearm
manufacturers who sell a legal product that is not defective should be
allowed to be sued if a criminal uses their products in a crime?"


Voters in both Red and Blue states strongly oppose such lawsuits-74% of
the former and 72% of the latter. In fact, a majority in every demographic
group opposed the lawsuits; the most strongly opposed, at 83%, were
current members of the military and their families.


The survey also examined how Americans feel about Right-to-Carry laws,
with the pollster asking: "Currently 36 states have laws that allow
residents to qualify for a permit to carry a firearm to protect themselves
if they pass a background check, if they participate in firearms training
and pay a fee to cover administrative costs. Do you feel this is a good
law or a bad law?"


Voters overwhelming favor these self-protection laws by a margin of 79% to
18%. Right-to-Carry drew better than 70% support in every demographic
group, with even non-gun owners indicating their backing by 73% to 23%.


The survey also asked: "Which of the following two statements regarding
gun control comes closer to your own opinion? Statement A: There needs to
be new and tougher gun control legislation to help in the fight against
gun crime; Statement B: There are enough laws on the books. What is needed
is better enforcement of current laws regarding gun control."


By a better than two-to-one margin-66% to 31%-voters nationwide agreed
with Statement B. Only self-identified liberals called for more laws, by a
53% to 44% margin. Moderates solidly favored better enforcement, 62% to
34%.


Voters were asked: "Do you agree the NRA is right to fight gun control on
both the federal and state levels?" NRA`s support stood at 64%, with a
party affiliation breakdown showing Democrats siding with NRA 54% to 42%,
and Republicans 73% to 22%.


Voters were also asked about hunting: "Which of the follow statements
comes closer to your opinion? Statement A: Killing wild animals for food
or sport is an American tradition and an essential part of wildlife
management. Statement B: Hunting is a cruel sport and should be outlawed."
Statement A was chosen by of 92% of gun owners and 73% of non-gun owners.


The survey also addressed wildlife overpopulation, asking: "Some states in
America are being overrun with growing populations of deer, bear, or
wolves. When this happens, which of the following do you feel is the best
option to take? 1) The state should lengthen hunting seasons; 2)
Non-lethal methods of control should be used; 3) People should learn to
live with wildlife."


Lengthening hunting seasons was the overwhelming response, chosen by 61%
of the voters, while only 18% said use non-lethal methods, and 16% opted
for coexistence.


The entire 2004 Zogby Values Poll can be found at www.olearyreport.com



" ..The world has gone crazy. Guess I'm showing my age...
I think it dates from when we started looking at virtues
as funny. It's embarrassing to speak of honor, integrity,
bravery, patriotism, 'doing the right thing', charity,
fairness. You have Seinfeld making cowardice an acceptable
choice; our politicians changing positions of honor with
every poll; we laugh at servicemen and patriotic fervor; we
accept corruption in our police and bias in our judges; we
kill our children, and wonder why they have no respect for
Life. We deny children their childhood and innocence- and
then we denigrate being a Man, as opposed to a 'person'. We
*assume* that anyone with a weapon will use it against his
fellowman- if only he has the chance. Nah; in our agitation
to keep the State out of the church business, we've
destroyed our value system and replaced it with *nothing*.
Turns my stomach- " Chas , rec.knives