Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Why doesn't gun violence move voters like other issues? (NPR interview)
https://www.npr.org/2024/04/19/1245810420/why-doesn-t-gun-violence-move-voters-like-other-issues(4 min. audio at link)
Why doesn't gun violence move voters like other issues?
APRIL 19, 2024 5:10 AM ET
HEARD ON MORNING EDITION
4-Minute Listen
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Rutgers professor Ashley Koning about voting behavior as it relates to the issue of gun violence.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: Mass shootings, homicides, suicides - the United States is the outlier among affluent nations in all three areas. And the biggest contributor, of course, is guns. In poll after poll, a large number of Americans say that gun violence and gun safety is a priority. but that isn't reflected in their votes. Ashley Koning wanted to understand why that is, and we do, too, and that's why we called her. She's the director of the Rutgers Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling. Ashley Koning, thank you so much for joining us.
ASHLEY KONING: Thanks for having me, Michel.
MARTIN: So is it accurate that the issue of gun violence doesn't seem to compel voters in the same way as other issues, like, for example, the economy or abortion? And if that is true, why is that?
KONING: The unfortunate part is when we're looking at the most important problem, or what voters or Americans tell us is most important to their vote, gun control, gun safety usually doesn't make the list. It may be masked by something like crime or violence. But when we look at recent polling from Pew, Gallup and other national organizations, we see that, of course, it's the economy that's topping most important issues within the country, as well as things like immigration and terrorism and inflation and cost of living. We really don't see guns and firearms break through unless we're talking to younger voters.
[...]
APRIL 19, 2024 5:10 AM ET
HEARD ON MORNING EDITION
4-Minute Listen
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Rutgers professor Ashley Koning about voting behavior as it relates to the issue of gun violence.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: Mass shootings, homicides, suicides - the United States is the outlier among affluent nations in all three areas. And the biggest contributor, of course, is guns. In poll after poll, a large number of Americans say that gun violence and gun safety is a priority. but that isn't reflected in their votes. Ashley Koning wanted to understand why that is, and we do, too, and that's why we called her. She's the director of the Rutgers Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling. Ashley Koning, thank you so much for joining us.
ASHLEY KONING: Thanks for having me, Michel.
MARTIN: So is it accurate that the issue of gun violence doesn't seem to compel voters in the same way as other issues, like, for example, the economy or abortion? And if that is true, why is that?
KONING: The unfortunate part is when we're looking at the most important problem, or what voters or Americans tell us is most important to their vote, gun control, gun safety usually doesn't make the list. It may be masked by something like crime or violence. But when we look at recent polling from Pew, Gallup and other national organizations, we see that, of course, it's the economy that's topping most important issues within the country, as well as things like immigration and terrorism and inflation and cost of living. We really don't see guns and firearms break through unless we're talking to younger voters.
[...]
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
