Another Bum NY Times/CBS Poll

The NY Times reports on their new gun control poll. This struck me:

[J]ust over half of all respondents, 53 percent, said they would support a ban on some semiautomatic weapons.

Some semiautomatic weapons? Most pistols sold these days are semiautomatic - did the Times really find this kind of support for a handgun quasi-ban?

Let's roll the videotape! Here is the poll question:

A ban on semi-automatic weapons - including "some" pistols? I welcome assistance in finding detailed sales figures but to demonstrate the popularity of semiautomatic handguns lets start here:

Top 10 Handguns depicts nine semiautomatics and the Dirty Harry Smith & Wesson revolver.

Top 10 Handguns for Self-Defense shows one revolver, one derringer, and eight semiautomatics.

The top selling handguns mentioned here are all semiautomatic.

And eventually I will get this BATFE report to open and it will show us manufacturing and export figures. That is not final sales, but it is a useful proxy. Kind of suspenseful right now...

OK - 2.6 million pistols, which will be semiautomatic; 572,857 revolvers.

In any case, the Times managed to ask a very misleading question, which makes me wonder how much stock to put in the answer. I don't think there is broad public support for banning the most popular handguns in America.

FOX ON THE RUN: Ahh! What kind of right-wing noise machine are we running here?

From the latest Fox News poll on gun control:

Banning assault rifles and semi-automatic weapons: 54% Favor, 42% Oppose.

Well, that dovetails nicely with the Times response. Still a bad question though.

Comments

[Mark Folkestad]

The Slimes having an invalid poll? Perish the thought!

[Mark Folkestad]

Don't worry about your criticism causing The Slimes to go under. There will still be enough of a market from the hoity-toity types who couldn't bear to have their parakeets or Pommeranians poop on paper from the NY Post.

[narciso]

Well Carlos Slim jr. was featured in Town and Country's last list, of pampered princes, so he'll probably offload it to a discriminating Russian oligarch

[Mark Folkestad]

Narciso, by Russian oligarch, do you mean successful businessman, former KGB officer or Russian mobster? Or doesn't one make such distinctions these days?

[narciso]

Yes, Mark, this is why they had a 'thrill up their leg' when Al Jazeera, nabbed Current, it's like the Bridesmaid waiting to catch the bouquet.

[NJJan]

Posted this on previous thread --

CC
These names are fun I love yours. On another note, jEF is forming a non profit organization from his campaign operation, headed by Messina and no one seems to find anything wrong with this (media).

http://www.memeorandum.com/130118/p2#a130118p2

[marlene]

Morning! Zero degree(s) here. O/T...Maine Public Broadcasting (MPBN) will set up an automated phone line to inform callers of alternate viewing times for the Sunday night episode of Downton Abbey.The reason? To avoid potential conflicts between family members.The 2nd quarter of the Patriots/Ravens game will overlap the viewing time of Downton Abbey.
Reporting from Maine,Spike Sheffield.

[narciso]

Chutzpah, seriously, from the folks who like Jane Wallace were rewarded for flacking the CIA conspiracy stories in the 80s, but ran them through every show from Miami Vice, to a 21 Jump Street spinoff, in the LUN

[Janet]

These are some times we live in...

Gun control on the news 24/7 now & the Fast & Furious story went nowhere.

Made up girlfriend story on the news 24/7 now & Obama's made up girlfriends stories went nowhere.

It is SO frustrating.

[NJJan]

I agree, Janet. Obama's new propaganda machine is certainly not going to improve things. Unfortunately, too many people get their "information" from the msm sources and that is all they know. F&F, Benghazi, and factual info on guns never gets to them or is drowned out by the propaganda chorus. P

[Rob Crawford]

Yeah, that last clause on the question wasn't intended to influence the response...

[NJJan]

I am on the edge of my seat waiting for Christie to announce the enactment of tough new knife control laws here in Nj. Something must be done quickly.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/01/17/woman-brutally-stabbed-inside-bed-bath-beyond-store-in-nj/#.UPjX3b2gA24.twitter

[Threadkiller]

Fox News: David Limbaugh Slams Obama's Race Baiters; I Cant Get Over Obama Being Marxist

http://youtu.be/jJMs90c_87U

Mitt Romney and the GOP got over it...

[narciso]

So, this poll ia not only worthless but aggressively so, it'd like when Candy Crowley
put the wrong premise into the Benghazi question, from the outset,

[Mark Folkestad]

NJJan, apparently the British Labourites are ready to push for knife control measures that their medical association has been asking for. Nutsy things like registration, only one or two kitchen knives with blades longer than three inches. Give these types an inch and they surely will take a mile. It doesn't matter if the measures have any effect, as long as it makes them feel better.

[Captain Hate]

Tammy Bruce was ahead of the curve on warning people about the perfidy of Fat Boy Christie. Anybody heard from Coulter on how great he is lately?

[James D.]

Mark, it's not about "making them feel better".

It's about making sure that the serfs know their place. Glenn at Instapundit said it perfectly this morning:

"Gun control is a culture-war effort to rub middle America’s nose in the fact that the world is run by its betters. Any actual improvement in public safety is of no concern at all."

[NJJan]

Mark,
I read a about the proposed UK knife control. The loons here in this state would probably use it as a model. I was really just being sarcastic in previous post. According to article, the attack was a random one in a soft target area by a person who has exhibited mental problems by torturing animals. He just happened to use a knife instead of a gun.

[Janet]

Yeah, NJJan. Benghazi....a crap YouTube video nobody saw is the cause....but with Sandy Hook there is no "national discussion", screaming headlines, movie producers are Nazis,... about the violent movies/videos.

[Dublindave]

Chris Christie, still trying to ingratiate himself with Liberals, just described the NRA as a"reprehensible" organization.

Really lard-ass, got any other pearls of wisdom you'd like to share?

Still, never look a gift hog in the snout. Libs need to carpet bomb the airwaves with a Christies take on the NRA because that's going to grease the rails to finally introducing legislation that bans ALL guns!

[narciso]

The Solon of Scranton, provides his wisdom

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/01/18/biden-we-need-more-gun-laws-because-we-dont-have-time-to-enforce-the-ones-we-have/

[matt]

Fake polls. Obama is going to have his new action organization pressing for gun control.Coverups of Benghazi and F&F. Secret meetings and e mail accounts. Executive Orders well beyond the scope allowed in the past. Unaccountable czars.

We are already living in dictatorship lite.

[NJJan]

Janet,
The worst part is that so many people swallow this garbage and believe it.

[NJJan]

Off to do errands and chores. My cat would appreciate having a supply of food in the house.

[Captain Hate]

The Great One dispatches with CBS codger: http://nation.foxnews.com/mark-levin/2013/01/17/levin-trashes-cbs-s-schieffer-phony-journalist-propagandist-and-obama-cheerleader

[Janet]

OT - Here's a Jack Cashill article for the Wash. Times on Downton Abbey.

he wrote on FB - "This is my debut column for the Washington Times, just posted. I get paid by page views. So please view."

[narciso]

Doublethink is the default setting,

http://datechguyblog.com/2013/01/18/lower-expectations-is-that-even-possible/

[sbw]

Our newspaper didn't get from AP that the local NYC ABC station reported an exemption hadn't been included in the NYS gun bill.

AP tells me that that oversight will be fixed in a chapter amendment.

I wrote back, "So the fact that it was rammed through the legislature without due consideration is not news?"

Apparently, Cuomo's aides are saying that police are always exempted. Others say not.

Of course, if police are "always exempted," how does the legislature pass laws that apply to police?

[matt]

Another example of the nanny state run amok. There is a snowstorm in the UK and people are shocked, shocked, I say.

They're all tweeting about if one has to drive bring blankets, food, and survival gear, but this one was a bit much:

"People who drive with a ton of snow on their rooves: you are a danger to everyone around you. Clear it before doing 80 on the motorway!"

I have come to the conclusion that the internet brings out some of the worst traits of many people.

[jimmyk]

Yeah, that last clause on the question wasn't intended to influence the response...

Yeah, they might as well have said "that cause mass shootings of six-year-olds." But the NYT has become such an easy target, it's not even fun anymore.

[narciso]

These are the same folks, who probably have to reminded, don't use your hairdryer in the ahower, yikes.

[Rob Crawford]

Apparently, Cuomo's aides are saying that police are always exempted.

Absolute lie.

The statute that exempts police from gun restrictions lists the particular paragraphs it covers. The new law added new paragraphs, and did NOT amend the list of exemptions.

Anyone else getting sick of government types who think they're above that pesky rule of law thing?

[Extraneus]

"...that have detachable magazines, allowing them to rapidly fire a high number of rounds."

Obviously, the detach-ability of the magazine has nothing to do with the rate of fire. What they're saying is that they want to ban guns with detachable magazines. Except for the police, of course, who'll make it to your house 20 minutes or so after the 911 call.

[Danube of Thought iPad]

WSJ:

"In the midst of a ferocious battle with the president over gun control in America, the National Rifle Association continues to have more supporters than detractors, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. According to the poll, the NRA enjoys 41% positive approval rating, with a 34% negative rating. That compares with 41% positive and 29% negative in January 2011."

[narciso]

You see why they want Hagel, in this post, and why he is utterly unfit for it, in the LUN.

By comparison, James Forrestal, a bete noire of many, because of his role in the formation of the 'national security state' had investments in German business, but didn't think the Nazis were on the right path

[Captain Hate]

DoT, Norval is back in the more appropriate Offensive Coordinator role.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

-the Dirty Harry Smith & Wesson revolver--

Not sure who that list site is produced by but Dirty Harry used a blued Smith and Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum with a 6 and 1/2 inch barrel although they apparently used the 8 3/8 for some shots to make it look bigger.
The stainless Smith and Wesson 500 they depict is a completely different gun using a cartridge that was not developed until 25-30 years after Dirty Harry was made.
/ pedantry

[Janet]

Wouldn't it be cool if the WaPo dug into the Richard Windsor emails like they did Sarah Palin's emails? Enlist their readers to dig into them. How bout if the WaPo showed an interest in the F&F documents that Holder doesn't want to release?

[narciso]

Funny, how they never want the rules to apply to them, in the LUN

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--that have detachable magazines allowing them to rapidly fire a high number of rounds?--

That bold section doesn't seem as though it should introduce any particular bias into the poll, right?

[Danube of Thought iPad]

Ol' Norv is a good guy and apparently a great OC. He's just miscast as a head coach.

[narciso]

Well everyone has their dry spell, he started with the Cowboys, right?

[Danube of Thought iPad]

Technically, a revolver is not a pistol. Strictly speaking, a pistol is a handgun whose chamber is integral to the barrel. If you eliminate semi-automatic pistols you're left with derringers and flintlocks.

But why should the Times bother to learn what they're talking about at this late stage?

[narciso]

It gets in the way, most kids playing those shoot'em games, are more informed then Times reporters, or apparently those at the National Journal

[Captain Hate]

Yes narc, he was a long-time OC for the Cowboys before he tried his hand at head coaching starting with the Redskins and then moving on to Al Davis's sinking ship where he never had a chance to do anything positive (when he took that job I just rolled my eyes).

[Threadkiller]

41% Americans are favorable towards the NRA vs. Obama's 51% election victory equals a win for the NRA

36% Americans think the President is hiding something vs. Obama's 51% election victory equals a poorly run poll.

64% Republicans think the President is hiding something vs. Obama's 51% election victory equals the popularity of the John Birch Society.

[Rob Crawford]

From narciso's 10:54 link:

[Piers Morgan's] professional enemies, including Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson

I hereby forgive Clarkson for everything he's ever said about the US.

[Manuel Transmission]

Iggy, I was shocked to see the tally of .50s in that list. I remember some years ago when the .454 was first around. My local gun shop/range quickly figured out they could only allow a prospective buyer one round to test fire, because if they had two, the second round went into the ceiling. Most laid the gun back on the counter and left quietly. :)

[Rob Crawford]

Manuel -- I think that the numbers for that chart are for the calibers "up to" the given caliber. Notice the gap between 9mm and .50 -- where are the .45s?

[Jack is Back]

Both Clarkson and Morgan went to Harlow (a class B university known for its Journalism program, which makes it a class B university). I wonder if their fondness for each other's ego's started there?

[narciso]

Well I've watched some of Top Gear on BBC America, and it's kind of entertaining, Morgan probably violates the Geneva and Vienna conventions, on 'cruel and unusual punishment'

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Iggy, I was shocked to see the tally of .50s in that list.--

MT, I find it extremely doubtful that the S&W 500 is in the top 10 of any type of firearms sold anywhere.
They are effectively compensated but still kick like mules, although I'm not sure they're any worse than a non compensated 44.
They are also not cheap with an MSRP over $1,000.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Clarkson is notorious in the UK for being a skydragon skeptic and general detester of the nanny state and those who advocate it.
I suspect most of his anti American blather is merely provocative and is in any event balanced out by Richard Hammond's Yankeephilism.

[Rob Crawford]

I suspect most of his anti American blather is merely provocative and is in any event balanced out by Richard Hammond's Yankeephilism.

I thought their attempt to get themselves beaten up in Alabama was in horrible bad taste. There are parts of London where they wouldn't dare be half as provocative, because there would be no question of a violent outcome.

And I STR one of the "redneck" targets of their stunt saying to them, "Are ya'll tryin to get beat up?!"

[Danube of Thought]

41% Americans are favorable towards the NRA vs. Obama's 51% election victory equals a win for the NRA

Very few people feel that they must choose between Obama and the NRA. What equals a win for the NRA is the fact that significantly more people view it favorably than unfavorably.

36% Americans think the President is hiding something vs. Obama's 51% election victory equals a poorly run poll.

Why?

64% Republicans think the President is hiding something vs. Obama's 51% election victory equals the popularity of the John Birch Society.

?

[MarkO]

Math is hard.

[maryrose]

TK
Don't be discouraged by polls. Just remember Bammy was turned intoa eunuch on gun control. '
DOT was right about this from the get-go.
Now are next job is to extract concessions as we piecemeal dangle the debt ceiling in his fatuous face. It will be a long painful 4 years for "The One"
I don't watch prog news so I really haven't heard much about the Inauguration. It is kind of ho-hum and an afterthought. How appropriate that one of the Inaugural Balls will be on MLK Day. I bet the lemmings are gushing over that.

[Jack is Back]

The target of Morgan's wrath (that he wanted more bullets for his mythical gun) was Ian Hislop, a very funny guy, who I enjoyed on "Have I Got News For You" on BBC when living in London. He had a running feud with Morgan.

Here is some of it reported by El-Guardian

Note how Morgan has pissed off Earl Spencer (Di's brother) and the Queen.

Then there is this hysterical interview Hislop has with fellow funny man and HIGNFY team Captaiin Paul Merton on Room 101. Morgan is lot like Obama - not smart and nasty.

Oh, I didn't mention that back in 2004, Clarkson punched Morgan 3 times because of the same reasons Hislop mentions: Morgan sicced his reporters on Clarkson's private life.

PIers Morgan is a despicable little man that has a lot of enemies in the UK and no friends.

[narciso]

The feeling is apparently mutual, from this comment on a BMW 1 review, on Top Gear;

“Just when you’d think it couldn’t get any better, you can push a button and the whole car shimmies. It’s like a little shiver of excitement, the kind of feeling you would get if someone suddenly gave you permission to set fire to Piers Morgan.”

[Rob Crawford]

maryrose -- Apparently the inauguration is plagued by a shortage of porta-potties. I suspect the real issue is there's too much crap in DC, though.

[Rob Crawford]

Oh, I didn't mention that back in 2004, Clarkson punched Morgan 3 times

I cannot express how that makes me feel.

[Extraneus]

I don't understand why people think the left is losing on the gun issue. Every one of us knows that Dems play a long game. This week, it's draconian changes to NY State law. Next week, maybe another state will enhance their restrictions. A couple of years from now, some other creep will kill a bunch of kids and the wheel will start turning again, and another couple of states will fall.

Dems are patient enough to take incremental changes that require radical fixes, and radical fixes are few and far between. The constant gnawing of the libs has been a fact of life for many decades now, and they're making more and more progress. Like I say, just this week they had a big win in NY. Did the right have any wins this week?

[maryrose]

RC:
You owe me a new keyboard! LOL!
I like Clarkson and Top Gear. Anyone who has punched Piers{ what kind of a sissy name is that} in the nose is aces in my book.

[maryrose]

EXT:
They stopped Bammy cold and we haven't even done the debt ceiling or sequester yet.
New York is New York. They wanted Cuomo{Mr. Me First} so they are stuck with gun control.

[NK]

Clarkson-Morgan fight?... can they both lose? Clarkson is a libertarian only to the extent HE can use his wealth the way he wants so he doesn't like regulation when it annoys him.. much like Mikey Bloomberg. Otherwise he's an insufferable prat--much like Morgan.

[narciso]

Well he's more entertaining, plus how can you argue with this, from his older twitter feed;

Piers Morgan says I couldn’t go on his CNN show because staff there have never heard of me. Another reason is: I’d rather eat my own head.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--I thought their attempt to get themselves beaten up in Alabama was in horrible bad taste.--

Bad taste? Probably.
Funny? Definitely.
They painted slogans on the side of each others cars to provoke people such as "Hillary For President" and something claiming Hammond was gay.

But in a subsequent show they took another trip through the south which was quite respectful, their biggest complaint being the nanny state speed limit of 35 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
They also did an affectionate trip through CA and NV to the Bonneville Salt Flats where the running joke was kowtowing to some stupid nanny state directive from the State department that their show be only educational and factual rather than entertaining.

On balance the show is a blow for individual freedom against the state, which is pretty extraordinary considering it is produced by the Beeb.

[Danube of Thought iPad]

"Like I say, just this week they had a big win in NY."

Not yet. The "long game" includes surviving the legal challenges to come. D.C. thought it had a big win until Heller was decided. Illinois thought it had a big win over concealed carry.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--This week, it's draconian changes to NY State law.--

To the extent Federalism still exists one would have to expect these things in the blue hells.
However with McDonald incorporation of the 2nd it is far from certain how NY's grab will fare with the inevitable lawsuits to come.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

What DoT said.

[Threadkiller]

"What equals a win for the NRA is the fact that significantly more people view it favorably than unfavorably."

So it follows that 64% of Republicans thinking Obama is hiding something about his past is a win for Birthers.

"?"

64% of Republicans thinking the President is hiding something does not compare to the 11% of Republicans in 1962 that had a favorable view of the John Birchers but your fear is that the Birthers may become the new Birchers within the party.

You do remember stating that fear, don't you?

[Danube of Thought iPad]

64% of Republicans thinking the President is hiding something includes those, like me, who think he is hiding his LSAT score and his transcripts. What does that have to do with the birthers?

[Jack is Back]

DoT,

Since you and TK are lurking, I would like an answer to a question I have had but keep forgetting to ask.

If Obama can run for POTUS with a non-American father but born in the US, then why can't an American born outside of the States to parents who are both American. It just doesn't seem quite fair - Americans working overseas not on US bases, for example.

[Danube of Thought iPad]

"why can't an American born outside of the States to parents who are both American"

He can. See, e.g., John McCain.