A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that across all political and social groups in the United States, there is a strong preference against living near AR-15 rifle owners and neighbors who store guns outside of locked safes. This surprising consensus suggests that when it comes to immediate living environments, Americans’ views on gun control may be less divided than the polarized national debate suggests.
The research was conducted against a backdrop of increasing gun violence and polarization on gun policy in the United States. The United States has over 350 million civilian firearms and gun-related incidents, including accidents and mass shootings, have become a leading cause of death in the country. Despite political divides, the new study aimed to explore whether there’s common ground among Americans in their immediate living environments, focusing on neighborhood preferences related to gun ownership and storage.
People feelings and perceptions are absolutely useful things to record and build data sets around. We do it all the time. The question isn’t asking “are people safer?” The question is “do people feel safer?“ Which is an important and distinct question they are trying to answer.
For instance: Every poll about the economy is “how do you feel about the economy?” not “what are the numbers for your personal financial situation?” Because peoples moods, rather than economic reality, are a better predictor of their voting behavior. Also, that info on its own is useful for understanding other questions.
TL;DR: you’re disputing how they measured it because you have decided what the question should be, instead of recognizing what the question is. Both are valid to ask but this study is explicitly about perceptions and feelings, not hard numbers on safety and firearms. But they aren’t measuring safety, they are measuring perception. And that’s a useful exercise.
Fair enough for a general survey question. However, the point about how policy decisions shouldn’t be based on opinion/anecdote is still valid (at least in the case of gun control).
Well, I disagree that how people feel should not be considered when writing laws. But I’m also not sure why the existence of the study means people say it should be used as the sole basis for deciding policies around firearms. That’s not really what this is about.
How people feel is important to know because it will influence how a change needs to be presented.
In this example: A lot of oeople feel safer owning guns, science show they’re wrong and it actually decreases their safety, in order to be able to change things in a way that people will accept it that perception needs to be changed.
Great point
I could understand the argument for factoring people’s feelings into policy in some cases, but let’s take this study as an example.
Handguns are responsible for far more harm than AR-15s, but this study shows people “fear” AR-15s more. A policy that is based on these findings and not empirical data may attempt to reduce gun violence by addressing AR-15 ownership. Thereby not having a major effect on reducing actual gun violence.
A policy focusing on reducing handgun ownership would be much more effective at reducing gun violence, despite people not fearing them as much.
Where is this policy discussion happening? This post is just the study. It should absolutely inform policy, but y’all are acting like it is proposing specific policy.
This was their takeaway. Not gun control policy advocacy.
I think you’re confusing me with other commentors. I haven’t suggested this research in particular is being actively used to support policy decisions. Nor have I suggested this research is advocating for policy.
In my initial comment I simply said policy in general (at least with gun control) shouldn’t be based on people’s feelings/anecdotes.
I think this study asked a very interesting question, and I find the results to be very interesting. I don’t really have any issues with this research by itself.
I know what your initial comment was, what I’m saying is that framing is not relevant to the post/survey. Either way, we are just going in circles here. Have a good rest of your week.