Poll finds support for guns – as well as limits – in Maine

[jpak]

http://www.pressherald.com/news/poll-finds-support-for-guns-as-well-as-limits-in-maine_2013-01-13.html

Mainers are more likely to own guns than most Americans, but they're also more supportive of increasing restrictions, such as banning semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines, according to a Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram poll.

While the poll results appear contradictory, they reflect Maine's traditional gun culture, said Scott Bahr, senior consultant with Portland-based Critical Insights, which conducted the poll for the newspaper between Jan. 7 and Jan. 9.

Mainers are fiercely protective of their gun rights -- only 5 percent want to outlaw guns, according to the poll. Yet most Mainers view military-style weapons as being impractical for hunting and home protection, he said.

"Here, people take pride in their guns and have had guns in their families for generations," Bahr said. "They don't want an all-out ban, but they want some reasonable restrictions."

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ayup

[ManiacJoe]

1. Not a bad article.

Some of the results are a little surprising, like the banning of semi-autos. Having been born and raised in Maine with lots of hunting, semi-autos were a popular style for hunting rifles and shotguns.

[ileus]

2. How nice of them to volunteer my rights away.

How is an AR impractical for home protection or hunting?

[holdencaufield]

3. When you read the poll questions ...

... about exploding bullets and magazine clips you can surmise the 600 poll responders were well chosen to achieve the desired result.

[chicoguy]

4. Poor wording on the questions

This is where having a little knowledge goes a long way.

The last question in the poll is:

"Exotic ammunition:
Please tell me if you would favor or oppose the following proposal: Banning bullets that explode or are designed to penetrate bullet-proof vests."

This is an idiotic question. First off, I am not sure what an "exploding" bullet is, but I can assure you that any bullet that explodes is quite illegal in this country. Then it goes on to say "or are designed to penetrate bullet-proof vests.", like they are the same thing. Any rifle round is made to do this, bullet proof vests have never been intended to stop rifle rounds. Bullet proof vests are somewhat effective against small caliber rounds (9mm, 45, maybe .357).

So according to this poll 69% of Mainers (?) are in favor of making ALL rifle ammunition illegal? I don't buy it.