What Do Americans Say about the Second Amendment?

            The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday is the Second Amendment. This amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to “keep and bear arms.” Most Americans understand that they have this guaranteed right, and they purchase more guns when they feel threatened. During and after the 2020 race riots, Americans bought guns. During COVID-19, Americans bought guns. When calls are made for more gun control, Americans bought guns.

            Armstrong Williams, host of “The Armstrong Williams Show” and columnist for The Daily Signal, knows that the right to bear arms “is a touchy subject these days, but its effect on our daily lives cannot be overstated.” Americans recognize that life becomes more dangerous by the day, so they do what they can to defend themselves and their loved ones. He stated, “our cities re in a dangerous downward spiral” and emphasized that the cities are “increasingly filthy” with “skyrocketing” crime rates. If you doubt his words, he suggests that you “Take a stroll through any big city” to see what is happening. 

            Katherine Schaeffer of the Pew Research Center published an article giving “key facts about Americans and guns.” With increasing numbers of Americans purchasing guns, Democrats continue to propose new restrictions on access to firearm for law-abiding Americans. Her “key finding about Americans’ attitudes about gun violence, gun policy, and other subjects” are taken from surveys made by Pew Research Center and Gallup. 

1. Four-in-ten U.S. adults say they live in a household with a gun, including 30% who say they personally own one.

2. Personal protection tops the list of reasons why gun owners say they own a firearm.

3. Around half of Americans (48%) see gun violence as a very big problem in the country today.

4. Attitudes about gun violence differ widely by race, ethnicity, party and community type. [Blacks (82%), Hispanic (58%), and White (39%) say it is a very big problem.]

5. Roughly half of Americans (53%) favor stricter gun laws, a decline since 2019.

6. Americans are divided over whether restricting legal gun ownership would lead to fewer mass shootings.

7. There is broad partisan agreement on some gun policy proposals, but most are politically divisive.

8. Gun ownership is closely linked with views on gun policies. This is true even among gun owners and non-owners within the same political party.

9. Americans in rural areas typically favor more expansive gun access, while Americans in urban places prefer more restrictive policies.