Earlier this month, we brought attention to Hillary Clinton’s recent comments about how the U.S. Supreme Court was wrong in recognizing that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms, and just how wildly of step her view is with that of the American people. Polling data released this week from Gallup and ORC International/CNN further underscores the chasm between Clinton’s anti-gun rhetoric and the views of most Americans.
During the October 13 Democratic presidential debate, Hillary Clinton proudly declared the NRA as one of the political enemies she is most proud of. A Gallup poll conducted October 7-11 asked “Is your overall opinion of the National Rifle Association very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable or very unfavorable?” Repudiating Clinton’s radical answer, 58-percent of those polled had a favorable opinion of NRA.
Moreover, in a piece accompanying the results, Gallup notes that the recent data shows “the highest recording of ‘very favorable’ opinions (26%) since Gallup began asking this question in 1989.” Broken down further, 56-percent of self-described political “moderates” had a favorable opinion of NRA. Among the non-gun owners polled, more held a favorable view of NRA than an unfavorable view. Recent measures of Clinton’s overall favorability, and that of her party, are significantly lower.
As for the overall state of the American public’s willingness to embrace new gun controls, those numbers aren’t encouraging for the candidate either. An ORC International/CNN poll conducted October 14-17 asked respondents “Do you favor or oppose stricter gun control laws?” 52-percent answered that they oppose stricter laws. One wonders how lopsided the results would have been if respondents were asked if they support a Clinton-endorsed gun confiscation scheme.
Last May, at the national conference of the National Council for Behavioral Health, Clinton targeted the Right-to-Carry during a question and answer session. Clinton remarked, “We’re way out of balance. I think that we’ve got to reign in what has become an almost article of faith that anybody can have a gun anywhere, anytime. And I don’t believe that is in the best interest of the vast majority of people.” Clinton went on to further proclaim the dangers of people “carrying guns in public places.”
October 7-11, Gallup asked respondents “Suppose more Americans were allowed to carry concealed weapons if they passed a background check and training course. If more Americans carried concealed weapons, would the United States be safer or less safe?” 56-percent of those polled responded that more people exercising their Right-to-Carry would make the country safer. Among independents, that total was 59-percent.
Sophisticated gun control supporters are aware of this political reality, and therefore try to obscure their true goal of civilian disarmament whenever possible. In recent days, at least one member of the anti-gun press, Paul Barrett of Bloomberg Businessweek, has taken issue with efficacy of Clinton’s direct attacks on NRA. Whatever Clinton’s current strategy might be, her position on the topic is now, and has been, abundantly clear and is fiercely at odds with the American people.
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