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Authored by John Lott Jr via RealClearPolitics.com,

Red flag laws are the top priority of Democrats and gun control advocates.

Polls show that Americans overwhelmingly support these measures by margins ranging between2-1and3-1. Congress recently passed legislation providing funding for states that adopted these laws.

But the polling doesnt really gauge whether Americans understand how these laws operate. The surveys generally just ask people if they support laws that allow guns to be temporarily confiscated by a judge from people considered by a judge to be a danger to themselves or others.

Respondents might reasonably assume that a normal legal process is being followed, whereby complaints are made and witnesses are cross-examined. With a law that almost always involves fears of suicide, they might presuppose that mental health experts are involved in the process.

To examine this premise, the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), which I head,hired McLaughlin & Associates to survey 1,000 general election votersfrom July 21-24, 2022. The survey began by asking people whether they supported red flag laws. It then informed respondents that there are no hearings before an individuals guns are taken away, and that there are no mental health care experts involved in the process.

People initially answered by a two-to-one margin that they support red flag laws (58% to 29%), with the strongest support coming from Democrats, the wealthy, blacks and Hispanics, and people aged 18-29.

However, after being told that there are no court proceedings before an individuals guns are taken away, and that there are no mental health care experts involved in the process, support changed to opposition (29% to 47%). Strong support plummeted from 34% to 14% and strong opposition rose from 18% to 29%.

Finally, people were asked if they prefer involuntary commitment or red flag laws. They were told that involuntary commitment laws provide for evaluations by mental health care experts, that an emergency court hearing takes place before a judges decision, and that a lawyer is provided if the person cant afford one. They are also told that, under such rules, judges have a range of less extreme options, such as mandatory outpatient mental health care and weapon confiscation.

Survey respondents favored involuntary commitment by a 40%-to-33% margin. Only Democrats, the wealthy, blacks, and Asians supported red flag laws as their preferred option.

The shift in position by the strongest supporters of red flag laws when told about the laws is consistent with them being the least well-informed. But that isnt the only evidence of that problem. In April, the CPRC hiredMcLaughlin & Associates to surveywhat people thought the percentage of violent crime committed using guns was. They found that those most strongly supporting gun control dramatically overestimated the percentage of violent crime committed with guns. While the average Democrat estimates that 56.9% of violent crimes involve guns and the typical Republican gave an answer of 37%. (The actual rate is less than 8%.)

We keep being told that there is90+% supportin polls foruniversal background checks on the private transfer of guns. But when these measures have been on the ballot, they havent been slam dunks. In 2016, despite Michael Bloombergsoverwhelming financial backing, ballot initiatives failed in Maine by 4 percentage points and won in Nevada by less than 1%.

The Nevada initiative had$20 millionin funding behind it, amounting to an incredible $35 per vote. Thats three times more than what was spent in opposition. In Maine, the opposition wasoutspent by a factor of 20.And in both states, the media coverage was overwhelmingly sympathetic to the gun control side.

While the Nevada initiative technically eked out a win, it wasnt able to go into effect because it had been inaccuratelysold to voters as not costing taxpayers any money.

Senate Republicanspassed gun control earlierthis year totake guns off the political agenda for this fall, but part of the compromise entailed providing federal funding to encourage states to adopt red flag laws. Democratscontinueto cite surveys seeming to show that gun control will play a role in Novembers election. Perhaps thats right. Or is this perception more properly understood as an example of their consultants and pollsters not understanding the issues?

Americans keep being told by the media that they overwhelmingly support gun control laws. So why dont the laws get passed? Might it be that the polls are inaccurate and biased? My own survey suggests just that.

Originally posted here:
Media Spin On Gun Control Doesn't Match Voters' Opinions