SUPPORT FOR GUN RIGHTS INCREASES

The Pew Research Center’s Andrew Kohut late last week in the Wall Street Journal took the opportunity to revisit public opinion survey data it first presented in December 2014 that found more Americans say they believe that protecting gun rights is more important than controlling gun ownership, by a 52 percent to 46 percent margin. Noting that the public’s perception are at odds with what has actually been a decrease in violent crime over the last two decades, Kohut wrote, “In short, we are at a moment when most Americans believe crime rates are rising and when most believe gun ownership — not gun control — makes people safer.” Read the Pew Research Center report.