Police officers’ opinions on gun violence and gun control

5 Responses

1. Dana King says:

   2013-04-09 at 01:26

   This is a truly disturbing survey. Even in Tombstone, guns had to be checked before you could come into ton. A majority of these guys seem to be advocating a return to Deadwood..

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2. Jay Livingston says:

   2013-04-09 at 15:30

   The survey has big sampling problems — small departments are overrepresented, cities underrepresented, with no statistical adjustment. But taking it at face value, you can't be surprised the cops have a conservative ideology or that they select facts (or invent them) to support that ideology. Most have no personal experience that would contradict it, and even if they did, one-time experiences don't have a big impact on ideology.

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3. Dana King says:

   2013-04-09 at 16:20

   Thanks, Jay. I wondered about the sampling myself.

   What disturbed me more than anything is the willingness of these cops to decide for themselves whether a law will be enforced. I know there's a certain amount of that in police work; no one wants every law enforced rigidly. But to say they would refuse to enforce a new gun law is beyond worrisome, not just in the gun control arena, but because of its implications in other areas not currently under discussion.

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4. PCM says:

   2013-04-09 at 17:40

   They're saying they would refuse to enforce a *federal* law. Local police don't work for the Feds. I have no problem with that. Same thing could apply to immigration or legal marijuana.

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5. Dana King says:

   2013-04-10 at 18:06

   Sorry, I must have confused two things here. There's a sheriff in Colorado who has announced he will refuse to enforce the state's new gun control laws. I had this on my mind and didn't read the survey closely enough.

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