-Caveat Lector- Gun Owners Likelier to Distrust Government NewsMax.com Wires Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 COLUMBUS, Ohio - An Ohio State University study indicates that people who distrust the government own guns in greater proportion than those who expressed trust in at least one branch. The study, published in the current issue of Social Science Quarterly, also found government mistrust is widespread, not just the characteristic of a small minority. Associate sociology professors Robert Jiobu and Timothy Curry studied data assembled for the General Social Survey. The material was collected between 1988 and 1996 and included interviews with 6,576 people. "We found that these people who don't have confidence in the government are more likely to own guns," Jiobu said. Rick Pearson, president of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said he was not surprised by the study results because the government deserves citizens' distrust. "I would say this is probably historical in nature because a lot of time the federal government, as well as other governments, have done things to gun owners that they haven't liked after they said they wouldn't do it." Pearson cited New York as an example. "They said if you register your firearms, they wouldn't come and get them and then they came and got them. The same is true of California. "The problem is that though no matter what happens, you wind up with some bureaucrat who twists the intent of the law." Nearly half of those surveyed, 43.9 percent, said they had hardly any confidence in one or more branches of the federal government. Of those who said they had a great deal of faith in the government, only 23 percent owned a firearm, while 37 percent of those who doubted the government owned one. The researchers said the percentages held firm even making allowances for such factors as political ideology, gender, age, education, general fear of crime and whether the respondents had been crime victims the preceding year. The results also held true through the three presidential administrations spanned. Curry suggested firearms give those who distrust government a sense of empowerment. "For some people, guns represent freedom and the ability to protect themselves," Curry said. "Guns are seen as a little bit of protection in an otherwise chaotic world." Those who own guns and distrust the government may fear the government will take away their rights or that it will not be able to protect them. Jiobu said efforts to control weapons sales may have the unintended effect of encouraging some to stockpile weapons. "We have to understand that for many people, the gun is an icon for evil and violence, while for others that same gun is an icon for democracy and personal empowerment," Curry said. "Until that is understood, neither side of the debate will be able to understand how the other side can be so blind to the 'truth.'" Copyright 2001 by United Press International. All rights reserved. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
