15,000 Police Officers Weigh In on Gun Control [Charts]

[Missing User]

[I]In March, PoliceOne conducted the most comprehensive survey ever of American law enforcement officers’ opinions on the topic gripping the nation's attention in recent weeks: gun control.

More than 15,000 verified law enforcement professionals took part in the survey, which aimed to bring together the thoughts and opinions of the only professional group devoted to limiting and defeating gun violence as part of their sworn responsibility. Totaling just shy of 30 questions, the survey allowed officers across the United States to share their perspectives on issues spanning from gun control and gun violence to gun rights.

Top Line Takeaways
Breaking down the results, it's important to note that 70 percent of respondents are field-level law enforcers — those who are face-to-face in the fight against violent crime on a daily basis — not office-bound, non-sworn administrators or perpetually-campaigning elected officials.[/I]

[quote]1.) Virtually all respondents (95 percent) say that a federal ban on manufacture and sale of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds would not reduce violent crime.
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveryQ6.gif[/img]

2.) The majority of respondents — 71 percent — say a federal ban on the manufacture and sale of some semi-automatics would have no effect on reducing violent crime. However, more than 20 percent say any ban would actually have a negative effect on reducing violent crime. Just over 7 percent took the opposite stance, saying they believe a ban would have a moderate to significant effect.
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ5.gif[/img]

3.) About 85 percent of officers say the passage of the White House’s currently proposed legislation would have a zero or negative effect on their safety, with just over 10 percent saying it would have a moderate or significantly positive effect.

[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ4.gif[/img]

4.) Seventy percent of respondents say they have a favorable or very favorable opinion of some law enforcement leaders’ public statements that they would not enforce more restrictive gun laws in their jurisdictions. Similarly, more than 61 percent said they would refuse to enforce such laws if they themselves were Chief or Sheriff.
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ15.gif[/img]
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ16.gif[/img]

5.) More than 28 percent of officers say having more permissive concealed carry policies for civilians would help most in preventing large scale shootings in public, followed by more aggressive institutionalization for mentally ill persons (about 19 percent) and more armed guards/paid security personnel (about 15 percent). See enlarged image
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/Q22-final.gif[/img]

6.) The overwhelming majority (almost 90 percent) of officers believe that casualties would be decreased if armed citizens were present at the onset of an active-shooter incident.
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ23.gif[/img]

7.) More than 80 percent of respondents support arming school teachers and administrators who willingly volunteer to train with firearms and carry one in the course of the job.
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ24.gif[/img]

8.) More than four in five respondents (81 percent) say that gun-buyback programs are ineffective in reducing gun violence.
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ17.gif[/img]

9.) More than half of respondents feel that increased punishment for obviously illegal gun sales could have a positive impact on reducing gun violence.
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyq8-1.gif[/img]

10.) When asked whether citizens should be required to complete a safety training class before being allowed to buy a gun, about 43 percent of officers say it should not be required. About 42 percent say it should be required for all weapons, with the remainder favoring training classes for certain weapons.
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ9.gif[/img]

11.) While some officers say gun violence in the United States stems from violent movies and video games (14 percent), early release and short sentencing for violent offenders (14 percent) and poor identification/treatments of mentally-ill individuals (10 percent), the majority (38 percent) blame a decline in parenting and family values.
[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ29.gif[/img]

Bottom Line Conclusions
Quite clearly, the majority of officers polled oppose the theories brought forth by gun-control advocates who claim that proposed restrictions on weapon capabilities and production would reduce crime.

In fact, many officers responding to this survey seem to feel that those controls will negatively affect their ability to fight violent criminals.

Contrary to what the mainstream media and certain politicians would have us believe, police overwhelmingly favor an armed citizenry, would like to see more guns in the hands of responsible people, and are skeptical of any greater restrictions placed on gun purchase, ownership, or accessibility.

The officers patrolling America’s streets have a deeply-vested interest — and perhaps the most relevant interest — in making sure that decisions related to controlling, monitoring, restricting, as well as supporting and/or prohibiting an armed populace are wise and effective. With this survey, their voice has been heard.[/quote]
[url]http://www.policeone.com/Gun-Legislation-Law-Enforcement/articles/6183787-PoliceOnes-Gun-Control-Survey-11-key-lessons-from-officers-perspectives/[/url]

If you wish to see all the results: [url]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/p1_gunsurveysummary_2013.pdf[/url]

[Smoot]

There you go folks.

[trotskygrad]

interesting, most of the police officers are pro-gun looks like

[Coolkiddo]

And why are congress and state representatives ignoring these facts?

Video games of course!

[Zephyrs]

[QUOTE=lolo;40213430]And why are congress and state representatives ignoring these facts?

Video games of course![/QUOTE]

I blame rock and roll.

[Missing User]

[QUOTE=lolo;40213430]And why are congress and state representatives ignoring these facts?

Video games of course![/QUOTE]

These are not "facts" these are 15,000 opinions

[thisispain]

[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ16.gif[/img]

i thought the police was supposed to enforce the law

[Keyblockor]

[QUOTE=trotskygrad;40213391]interesting, most of the police officers are pro-gun looks like[/QUOTE]

It's not "Pro-gun" it's common sense when you're actively subduing and fighting crime.

[Trunk Monkay]

[QUOTE=thisispain;40213476][img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ16.gif[/img]

i thought the police was supposed to enforce the law[/QUOTE]
so long as the law doesn't violate the constitution.

[thisispain]

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;40213522]so long as the law doesn't violate the constitution.[/QUOTE]

since when did police officers become supreme court justices

[Chronitonity]

[QUOTE=thisispain;40213476][img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ16.gif[/img]

i thought the police was supposed to enforce the law[/QUOTE]

Police are also people and have opinions

[catbarf]

[QUOTE=areolop;40213464]These are not "facts" these are 15,000 opinions[/QUOTE]

I'll take overwhelming near-consensus from a statistically valid sample of people who interact with criminals and guns on a daily basis as about as close as you can get to an expert opinion, and consequently a little more valid than the opinions of a bunch of gun-shy lawmakers.

[rrkpp_]

[QUOTE=EnlightenDead;40213540]Police are also people and have opinions[/QUOTE]

if they're such independent thinkers why are people getting arrested for minor drug offenses?

"yeah ill ruin someones life for smoking a bit of weed but arrest someone for owning outlawed firearms and accessories? fuck that"

[lordcrypto]

[QUOTE=thisispain;40213476][img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ16.gif[/img]

i thought the police was supposed to enforce the law[/QUOTE]

when 44% of police officers think that they have the ability to not enforce laws

we've got problems

[thisispain]

[QUOTE=EnlightenDead;40213540]Police are also people and have opinions[/QUOTE]

when you dont enforce a law youre not expressing an opinion, youre not doing your job
i think its bizarre how the police in america treat the law as a recommendation or a suggestion.
if a sheriff or police chief doesnt enforce a law they shouldnt be sheriff or police chief.

[LowlyKommrad]

[QUOTE=trotskygrad;40213391]interesting, most of the police officers are pro-gun looks like[/QUOTE]

They're just not stupid and have more experience with situations with actual gun violence than any of us.

[lordcrypto]

[QUOTE=KommradKommisar;40213592][B]They're just not stupid[/B] and have more experience with situations with actual gun violence than any of us.[/QUOTE]

way 2 ad hominem

[editline]8th April 2013[/editline]

if a teacher doesn't teach the standards, they get fired

why does a cop saying "i don't want to enforce this law" get applauded

[rrkpp_]

[QUOTE=KommradKommisar;40213592]They're just not stupid and have more experience with situations with actual gun violence than any of us.[/QUOTE]

yeah round of applause for cops taking the law into their own hands, while we're on the subject of people not doing their jobs, all those science teachers who refused to teach evolution deserve way more applause

[YouWithTheFace.]

[img]http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/gun-surveyQ9.gif[/img]

why are so many opposed to safety classes? If you learn what you are dealing with you could cause less gun related accidents no?

[DaCommie1]

[QUOTE=thisispain;40213563]when you dont enforce a law youre not expressing an opinion, youre not doing your job
i think its bizarre how the police in america treat the law as a recommendation or a suggestion.
if a sheriff or police chief doesnt enforce a law they shouldnt be sheriff or police chief.[/QUOTE]

Sheriffs are elected, and like any other elected official have a pledge to defend and uphold the constitution. They are refusing to support these laws because they view them as unconstitutional. I think you'd see a number of Sheriffs refuse to enforce laws that would restrict freedom of speech too, if they were to arise.

[rrkpp_]

[QUOTE=DaCommie1;40213641]Sheriffs are elected, and like any other elected official have a pledge to defend and uphold the constitution. They are refusing to support these laws because they view them as unconstitutional. I think you'd see a number of Sheriffs refuse to enforce laws that would restrict freedom of speech too, if they were to arise.[/QUOTE]

cool then step down from the position of sheriff

[polarbear]

ban gangster rap, rock n roll, marijuana aka "the pot" and violent video games
reduce crime
make a better environment for [I]~the children~

[/I]

[lordcrypto]

[QUOTE=DaCommie1;40213641]Sheriffs are elected, and like any other elected official have a pledge to defend and uphold the constitution. They are refusing to support these laws because they view them as unconstitutional. I think you'd see a number of Sheriffs refuse to enforce laws that would restrict freedom of speech too, if they were to arise.[/QUOTE]
yeah but idk

the whole determining whether something is unconstitutional isn't really in their job description sooooooo

[Archonos 2]

[QUOTE=thisispain;40213531]since when did police officers become supreme court justices[/QUOTE]

This. These charts are great, but these people enforce the law. They don't make laws.

[DaCommie1]

[QUOTE=Kopimi;40213646]cool then step down from the position of sheriff[/QUOTE]

"You care about my constitutional rights, how dare you! I demand you stop trying to uphold the constitution and step down for your support of the document that our whole legal system is based off of."

Are you going to tell soldiers to resign if they wouldn't accept orders to fire upon American citizens too? I mean, it's their job to carry out the orders handed down to them by their superiors, right?

[Chronitonity]

[QUOTE=LordCrypto;40213657]yeah but idk

the whole determining whether something is unconstitutional isn't really in their job description sooooooo[/QUOTE]
shooting innocent people might be unconstitutional but its not in my job to think about that so I guess I should do my job and follow my superiors orders
A+ logic

[LowlyKommrad]

[QUOTE=LordCrypto;40213657]yeah but idk

the whole determining whether something is unconstitutional isn't really in their job description sooooooo[/QUOTE]

Who better to decide than a guy on the ground dealing with the reprocussions everyday than some political lap dog?

[thisispain]

[QUOTE=DaCommie1;40213641]Sheriffs are elected, and like any other elected official have a pledge to defend and uphold the constitution. They are refusing to support these laws because they view them as unconstitutional. [/QUOTE]

i dont give a fuck what they think. theyre supposed to work for a democratic representative government on the local or state level.

they dont get to contemplate constitutional law on the time i pay them. that's the supreme courts job, and thats a delegated power

[lordcrypto]

[QUOTE=KommradKommisar;40213700]Who better to decide than a guy on the ground dealing with the reprocussions everyday than some political lap dog?[/QUOTE]
go find some unincorporated land then and start your own country

until then

scotus != police officer

[thisispain]

[QUOTE=DaCommie1;40213688]
Are you going to tell soldiers to resign if they wouldn't accept orders to fire upon American citizens too?[/QUOTE]

i sure hope theyd resign if it came to that point lol