NCJ Number
79099
Journal
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Volume: 455 Dated: (May 1981) Pages: 40-47
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article examines the claim that opponents of gun permit laws feel much more intensely about the matter than do proponents and that this helps to explain the political success of the opponents, despite their smaller numbers.
Abstract
Results from a national sample survey provide no support for the claim at the purely subjective level. When respondents were asked how strongly they felt about the issue of gun permits, supporters of a permit law responded with slightly more intensity. However, when asked whether they had ever acted on the issue -- written letters, contributed money, or both -opponents were markedly more likely to respond in the affirmative. The apparent inconsistency between these findings seems to be due to the fact that strength of feeling and taking action are highly related for permit opponents but not for proponents. Thus, among respondents who believe the issue to be most important, opponents are likely to act on their beliefs, whereas proponents are not; this difference may reflect the superiority in organizational effectiveness of the forces opposed to gun control. The concept of single issue politics is therefore more complex than is often realized and requires further investigation of both the individual and organizational levels, as well as of the connection between them. One figure and 17 footnotes are provided. (Author abstract modified)