NCJ Number
149349
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1993) Pages: 377-385
Date Published
1993
Length
9 pages
Annotation
In this article, Weil and Hemenway respond to Gary Kleck's critique of their survey, which found that National Rifle Association (NRA) members as well as nonmember gun owners have views on gun-control policy that differ from the NRA's.
Abstract
Weil and Hemenway view Kleck's article as having four major claims. First, he claims that the survey analysis deliberately omitted a discussion of policy issues on which NRA members agreed with the national organization. Second, he claims that the authors' interpretation of the responses is mistaken. Third, he argues that the survey itself is fatally flawed. Fourth, he asserts that the conclusions are unimportant and uninteresting. In addressing each of the points, Weil and Hemenway present data on responses to all attitude questions, which they claim reinforces rather than undermines their conclusions that "on many issues of current policy importance, the NRA appears to speak for no more than a small, active fraction of its membership." Overall, Weil and Hemenway assert that when the statements and actions of the NRA are taken at face value, there is a significant gap between the opinions of NRA members and NRA leadership. NRA members apparently hold, for the most part, procontrol attitudes regarding specific policy issues. 16 references