Gun expert Dana Loesch dissected a new ABC News/Washington Post poll on gun control on Monday and explained why polling on the issue is oftentimes misleading.
ABC News political reporter Johnny Verhovek tweeted the results of the poll: “Views on gun policy from latest @ABC/@washingtonpostpoll (1,003 U.S. adults, MoE +/- 3.5%) Requiring background checks Support: 89% Oppose: 9%. Banning assault weapons Support: 56% Oppose: 41%. Mandatory assault weapon buyback Support: 52% Oppose: 44%”
In a series of tweets, Loesch systematically broke down the ways that the poll was designed in a manipulative manner in order to push the political Left’s narrative on firearms.
Loesch began by highlighting problems with the following question that was asked: “Would you support or oppose a nationwide ban on high-capacity ammunition clips, meaning those containing more than 10 bullets?”
“This is one question,” Loesch tweeted. “First of all, the terminology is incorrect (this matters for a couple reasons) and who determined over 10 rounds means ‘high-capacity?’ In some, that isn’t even standard, it’s below standard.”
The next question that Loesch took aim at asked: “Would you support or oppose a law requiring background checks on people buying guns at gun shows or online? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?”
“It’s like the people crafting the questions weren’t familiar enough with current law to accurately conduct polling,” Loesch continued. “BGCs are standard (unless you’re in antiquities or legal and still-regulated transfer, neither of which are part of income) and online buys MUST go thru FFL.”
Loesch then called out the following question: “Would you support or oppose a law allowing the police to take guns away from people who have been found by a judge to be a danger to themselves or others?”
“OK, so this law already exists, but in combination with due process,” Loesch tweeted. “Get a psych hold, PO, etc to render ineligible a dangerous person. The new red flag proposal removes any and all due process.”
The next question Loesch took issue with asked: “How confident are you that [ITEM] would reduce mass shootings in this country – very confident, somewhat confident, not so confident or not confident at all?”
“Apparently recidivism, pattern of reducing penalty for or dismissing altogether charges for felony gun crimes isn’t part of this, despite driving the homicide rate of felonious activity involving an illegally possessed firearm,” Loesch tweeted. “Also not mentioned: actually following current law.”
Loesch then took aim at a question about banning “assault weapons” which did not define what an assault weapon is. When Democrats and the news media talk about “assault weapons” they are referring to semi-automatic firearms.
The question asked: “Would you support or oppose a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons?”
“The likelihood that those being polled think this means full-auto firearms is high,” Loesch concluded. “That’s the error in using made-up terms.”
One interesting result from the poll was that far-more Americans thought improving mental health treatment would be a better way to prevent mass shootings than pushing more gun control.