Gun Control & Federal Spending Poll : Fact or Fiction?

Stuff to ponder - also keep in mind we don't know the questions and how they were asked, but still interesting.


January 2013 Poll Results Reflect Americans' True Feelings
February 4, 2013
Source: "January 2013 National Survey," Reason Magazine, January 20, 2013.

A new Reason-Rupe poll reveals Americans' attitudes about federal spending and the gun debate, among other issues.

• The poll finds that 79 percent of Americans believe that government spending has reduced their quality of life (QoL) or made no impact on their quality of life since 1992. Forty percent say QoL has been reduced, 39 percent say government spending has had no impact and just 17 percent feel that federal spending has improved their lives.
• Nearly 50 percent of the sample believes the federal government should return to Clinton-era spending levels and 61 percent support cutting military spending to pre-9/11 levels.
• Poll respondents, 1,000 adults on mobile and landline phones, say that an average of 50 cents of every dollar the federal government spends is wasted.
• In addition, 64 percent of the sample says Congress should not raise the debt ceiling and 75 percent of Americans consider the national debt a problem that must be addressed now.
• Following the tragic school shooting in Connecticut, 52 percent of Americans believe that elected officials are exploiting the tragedy for political gain.
• The poll also finds that 51 percent of Americans believe in the right of individuals to own assault weapons.
• Seventy percent of 18 to 24 year olds and 58 percent of 25 to 34 year olds believe assault weapons should not be banned, while 57 percent of 55 to 64 year olds and 61 percent of people over the age of 65 say assault weapons should be banned.
• The polls also found that 52 percent of Americans approve of President Obama while 42 percent disapprove.