The more you trust the government, the more likely you are to support gun control – especially if you happen to be a Republican, according to the findings of a new study.
As the presidential election approaches, violent crime is a top concern for many voters – especially those committed to using firearms.
With increasing rates of gun ownership coinciding with the rise in crime, the issue of gun control will remain a staple in American political discourse. The findings of this study reveal some important truths about those who support the Second Amendment and those who oppose it.
Despite the impact of gun violence—with over 134 people killed in 148 mass shootings from June to October, an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll found that the issue ranks only eighth in importance among voter priorities. The issue trails others like the economy, healthcare, and overall crime.
However, for some, the threat of gun crime is more pressing. Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action, told ABC News that among younger voters who grew up with active shooter drills in their schools, gun violence remains a top priority. “This is a top three for all voters and for young people, this is particularly hitting them because they are the lockdown generation. Many of them are survivors of gun violence themselves,” she said.
Democrats have been pushing hard for stricter laws on gun ownership over recent years, while Republicans have largely opposed more restrictions on firearms.
A study titled “Support for Gun Reform in the United States: The Interactive Relationship Between Partisanship and Trust in the Federal Government” analyzes how trust in the state can affect support for gun control. Researchers found that partisan leanings and trust in government shape support for everything from background checks to arming teachers.
The study found that about 90 percent of Americans support more robust background checks for gun buyers under 21. This includes 82 percent of Republicans. When it comes to “assault rifle” bans, 85 percent of Democrats supported such measures versus only 33 percent of Republicans.
Red flag laws are also popular among Democrats, 85 percent of whom support them. Republicans aren’t so keen on the idea, with support hovering around 33 percent.
The study also asked respondents how they feel about other gun-related issues, such as whether the government should publish the names and addresses of gun owners and making it easier to obtain concealed-carry permits.
More than 60 percent of Republicans favored barring the state from publishing the personal information of gun owners. Only 38 percent of Democrats agreed.
About 65 percent of Republicans supported relaxed standards for obtaining carry permits, compared to only 16.7 percent of Democrats.
When it comes to the idea of arming school teachers, the results were also divided along partisan lines. About 76 percent of Republicans support the idea, compared to only 21 percent of Democrats.
These numbers highlight partisan differences in attitudes toward gun control. But Americans are also split by a fundamental difference in how they view the government.
“For Republicans, an increase in trust in government leads to a dramatic increase in support for gun control proposals,” according to the report.
Republican support for gun control drops among those who trust the government less. On the other hand, Democrats’ support for these measures remains steady regardless of their level of trust in the state.
The researchers suggested that this pattern among Republicans is related to the belief that gun ownership acts as a bulwark against government overreach, a point I explored in a recent article challenging anti-gunners to convince me to support gun control (Anti-Gunners, Here's Your Chance to Convince Me to Support Gun Control)
“Republican partisans convey an ‘originalist argument’ for the Second Amendment that highlights the right to bear arms as being necessary to overthrow a tyrannical government,” the report notes.
Researchers also stated that advocacy for gun control aimed at Republicans must account for the role trust in government plays in their thinking. “If gun control advocates are attempting to persuade Republican partisan to support gun reform, they need to be conscious of the role that trust in government plays in crafting views on gun reform.”
Good luck with that.
The bottom line is that if anti-gunners cannot guarantee that the state won’t become more tyrannical, they have no hope of convincing limited government types to support efforts to restrict gun ownership.
It is also worth noting that there might be a flaw in this study. Researchers discussed how the level of trust in government among Democrats does not influence how they view gun control. However, since they mostly support more restrictions, it is hard to believe that they don’t trust the government even if they say they don’t. The very foundation of gun control is that we should trust the government to protect us from all threats instead of trusting ourselves.
The primary motivation behind the inclusion of the Second Amendment was the possibility that the state could become overly oppressive to the point that Americans might have to take up arms. The Framers understood that the nature of government is to continue growing its power and influence in our lives. In light of this, those who believe in the natural right to keep and bear arms are not going to be swayed by those who want to restrict it.
