55% of Republicans ‘Back Potential Use of Force to Preserve American Way of Life’

A new George Washington University survey reveals divided sentiments about using force to preserve America’s way of life.

U.S.A.-(AmmoLand.com)- A stunning George Washington University poll conducted in June revealed that “Over half of Republicans (55%) supported the possible use of force to preserve the ‘traditional American way of life,’” while also finding that 47 percent of Republicans think there may be a time when “patriotic Americans have to take the law into their own hands.”

Another finding listed in the survey is that Republicans are far less likely (21%) than Democrats (83%) to say that “changing the nation’s gun laws is very or somewhat important.”

As reported by The Hill, “support for principles like free and fair elections, free speech and peaceful protest were nearly unanimous among Democratic and Republican voters.”

However, The Hill also noted, “Republicans were significantly less likely to have a strong amount of faith in local and state elections. Eighty-five percent of Democrats expressed trust in local election officials, with 76 percent saying the same of state officials, compared to 63 percent and 44 percent, respectively, for GOP voters.”

What this survey actually accomplished was to show the continuing, and perhaps widening divide between Democrats and Republicans on gun rights, and how political partisans disagree in their understanding of what the Second Amendment is really about. As grassroots gun rights activists repeatedly remind one another on social media, it’s “not about duck hunting.”

Considering the reductions to police departments in some major cities over the past year—a result of the “defund police” movement and an apparent decline in morale among police officers due to what they see as a lack of support from elected officials—it probably should not be surprising to see an increasing number of citizens concerned about having to act as their own first responders in life-threatening emergencies.

Amid the turmoil of 2020 and continuing into this year, gun sales have continued briskly in many parts of the country. Some estimates have put the number at 8 million new, first-time gun owners have joined the firearms community.

Back in April, The Hill reported on another survey, this one a Morning Consult-Politico tracking poll, that found 64 percent of registered voters support stricter U.S. gun laws, while 28 percent do not.

Alarming to gun rights activists, that survey also found 46 percent of respondents “said that limiting gun ownership was more important than protecting the Second Amendment, while 44 percent said that gun ownership rights were a higher priority.”

In May, Pew Research released a report citing eight “key facts about Americans and guns.” This poll also illustrates the divide between party philosophies on the Second Amendment.

According to Pew, the eight points are:

  • Around half of Americans (48%) see gun violence as a very big problem in the country today.
  • Attitudes about gun violence differ widely by race, ethnicity, party and community type.
  • Roughly half of Americans (53%) favor stricter gun laws, a decline since 2019.
  • Americans are divided over whether restricting legal gun ownership would lead to fewer mass shootings.
  • There is broad partisan agreement on some gun policy proposals, but most are politically divisive.
  • Americans in rural areas typically favor more expansive gun access, while Americans in urban places prefer more restrictive policies.
  • More than four-in-ten U.S. adults (44%) say they live in a household with a gun, including about a third (32%) who say they personally own one.*
  • Personal protection tops the list of reasons why gun owners say they own a firearm.

(*There is an interesting aspect to this question on gun ownership, and it came up recently in an Elway poll conducted in Washington State. When survey participants were asked whether anyone in their household owned a firearm, 42 percent said “yes,” 44 percent said “no,” but a sizeable number (14%) declined to answer. It is becoming more frequent that gun owners refuse to answer such a question because they do not believe it is anyone’s business whether they own a gun. Washington, incidentally, is a state with about 7.3 million residents, and there are currently more than 625,000 active concealed pistol licenses in circulation. That translates roughly to about one in nine or ten adults in the state who are licensed to carry, and roughly 20 percent of them are women.)

Among the prickliest of issues may be that 80 percent (or more) of Democrats “favor creating a federal database to track all gun sales and banning both assault-style weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, majorities of Republicans oppose the proposals,” Pew said.

Gun owners have long opposed a federal gun registry, a sentiment that could be more

However, 72 percent of Republicans “support allowing people to carry concealed guns in more places and allowing teachers and school officials to carry guns in K-12 schools (66%)” Pew added. Democrats, on the other hand, are largely opposed. Only 20 percent support broader concealed carry and 24 percent supported the idea of armed teachers.

The George Washington University poll revelations about the differences between Republican and Democrat responses underscores the concern American gun owners have about the push to change the nation’s gun laws and make them more restrictive under Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and the Pelosi-Schumer Democrat majority on Capitol Hill.

The political landscape could change dramatically in November 2022, largely driven by those concerns. Between now and then, however, activists will have their hands full blocking the gun control schemes that have already been introduced, and those yet to be revealed.


About Dave Workman

Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.

Dave Workman

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Mudhunter

It’s important to me to change gun laws. They should comply with the Constitution. Governors should have the Constitutional fortitude to publicly take action to head down that road, if for no reason than to force the fed to obey the restrictions on them, “shall not be infringed”. Some states have already started doing that, which is their right and responsibility. The citizens shouldn’t have to bear the burden allow to take up arms if it becomes necessary. The state authority should support, organize and lead it. If it gets to that point, local and federal petty tyrants can be… Read more »

Cam

If the government will use force to take it away, why should the public not resist by the same means?

JPM

The large cities are the bastions of liberals and the gun control advocates, whereas the rural communities and small towns and “country folk” overwhelmingly understand and support gun ownership and defend the 2nd Amendment. The problem is that in almost all the states, the large urban areas, including the State capital, is where power is centered and the concentration of people in those urban areas is used to control the rest of the state, and the elections at all but local levels, even when the majority of the population of the state is rural, and not urban, as with New… Read more »

Cruiser

We need an electoral college style system at the state level also, a good example is the “State of Chicago” and “The peoples republic of Madison Wisconsin”.

Last edited 2 years ago by Cruiser
Arizona

So per the stats, Americans see armed conflict in our future, defending American ideals from leftwing socialists. Glad it is more than three percent.
“Over half of Republicans (55%) supported the possible use of force to preserve the ‘traditional American way of life,’”

Arizona

Please elaborate, PS. You say he would have signed it sooner, but he never declared, invoked or signed any act regarding insurrection. Not during the black lives riots and looting, and not during the fraudulent election. As for civil war, well, I can see small scale guerrilla actions to remove treasonous gov officials and restore constitutional limitations. I seriously doubt we will see dems vs republicans, or neighbor vs neighbor, or even citizens vs army. More a revolution against corruption. To your last point, yes, 98% of the House and Senate are actual criminals, worthy of jail time, and thoroughly… Read more »

Russn8r

Only thing scarier than an armed insurrection is an unarmed insurrection! Brandon Stroika & 100s of “insurrectionists” are rotting in prison, lives ruined. Super-patriot Trump couldn’t be bothered to pardon them.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Russn8r

How did President Ford pardon President Nixon for crimes he “may have committed” when Nixon was never charged with a crime, duncepack?

Russn8r

Yet you can’t dispute the fact that many people have been pardoned who have never even been charged.

Russn8r

“How was Trump suppose (sic) to pardon anyone that hasn’t even been charged with a crime?…A presidential pardon excuses a person who has ‘committed a crime’ from serving punishment!” -TEX!/Will, sock-puppet, ex-enforcer, not to be confused with Will Rogers Nixon had not been charged let alone convicted when Ford pardoned him, you ignoranus. So how was Ford “suppose” to pardon him? “Now, THEREFORE, I, GERALD R. FORD, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and… Read more »

Russn8r

Yes, yes. Nice try, TEX. You claimed Trump couldn’t pardon the “insurrectionists” until they were charged. Wrong, as usual. Now you claim that somehow it’s relevant that Ford “knew” that Nixon had committed crimes. Perfect POV for a low-IQ thug ex-cop who believes people guilty until proven innocent. Nothing in the Constitution or any precedent states that a person must be charged first, or that someone has to “believe” they’re guilty, which is why Ford said “for all offenses Nixon MAY HAVE committed.” Ex Parte Garland still stands. You really are a bull-headed ignoranus, TEX. You sound just like the… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Russn8r

Nixon & many others were neither charged nor convicted when pardoned. You’re really just a poopy-mouth ignoranus ex-cop.

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Russn8r

Doesn’t matter, thug. They don’t need to be convicted, charged, or even arrested. Learn English, fool.

Russn8r

“You are a real stupid shit! Pissant…shit for brains!”
-TEX

Another poopy-mouth thug fail by low-IQ ex-cop TEX/Will (not to be confused with Will Rogers)

Last edited 2 years ago by Russn8r
Ryben Flynn

The Insurrection Act, originally signed by Thomas Jefferson in 1807, gives the president the power to act unilaterally and deploy the U.S. military to quell riots across the nation.
Presidents INVOKE it, not sign it.
It is an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act.
So many of you know nothing about it.
The President must issue a Proclamation ordering the rioters to disperse before invoking the Act.

Last edited 2 years ago by Ryben Flynn
Terry

I get so sick of reading this constant bickering bullshit. We can no longer have a civil discourse. It’s like a social media girl fight.

Bill

So nice that someone, here, can tell all the rest of us what everything is about.

Autsin Miller III

It would be interesting to know how the questions were phrased. A person could ask a question about using guns to protect the “American way” phrased so almost everyone would say yes or you could phrase it so almost everyone would say no.
Why was the poll taken? Who paid for it and why?
Interesting read and I appreciate the work, thanks.

KK

If the totalitarian democrats get their way, that nice “six shooter” will be the only thing American Citizens have to “exert Potential Use of Force to Preserve American Way of Life”! . . . and maybe a JoeBiden double barrel shotgun.

Henry Bowman

If Americans don’t rise up and USE their guns, the Commiecrats will ban ALL guns, including six-shooters and single-shot long arms.

Henry Bowman

Most polls are generally rigged/biased towards the Left because the Left either runs or pays for the poll. This poll is demonstrably false by the fact that in addition to the more than 135 million current gun owners in this country (making up over 1/3rd of the population), close to 9 million new gun owners bought their first firearm in 2020. More than 1 million new gun owners in 2021 have done likewise. If close to half the country owns guns, then it stands to reason that there cannot be 2/3rds of Americans who oppose gun ownership. I suspect that… Read more »

KK

Polls huh? So if you are a registered voter, you are now an expert on the Second Amendment, an expert on firearm and ballistic capabilities, and an expert on small arms requirements for defensive situations, and qualified to decide on whether or not the government can disarm American citizens and to what degree. Poll – How many registered voters answering firearm polls do not own a gun, would never think of owning a gun, have no ability to defend themselves, have no will to defend themselves, rely on nothing more than an alarm system, 911, and a prayer, and REALLY… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by KK
HLB

>Republicans “support allowing people to carry concealed guns in more places and allowing teachers and school officials to carry guns in K-12 schools<

Concealed carry or Open carry, how is it any of their business?

HLB

Bill

So surprising, how people “trust” those who make sure that their party wins.

andybuckmichael

While you people talk it to death, I will be getting loaded.

AZ Lefty

Remember 1865 seditionist scum, we will not be so nice this time!

Russn8r

Duh HUH! LMFAO!

Heed the Call-up

Apparently, you are advocating violence against the Democrats, as they are the “seditionists” that are violating, still, again, our Constitution, and our rights as guaranteed and protected by our Constitution. For once, I sort of agree, except that I do not advocate for violence, but I do understand it is necessary at times (such as self-defense, and preservation of our Constitutional Republic).