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Stronger Gun Laws Wanted in Pa., Poll Says

See what Pennsylvania voters think of stricter gun laws and add your opinion.

Stricter gun laws are a topic many people are talking about.

A number of local college presidents have signed a letter asking for more gun control, including Jane McAuliffe of Bryn Mawr College, Kathleen Ownes of Gwynedd-Mercy College, Joanne V. Creighton of Haverford College, Daniel H. Weiss of Lafayette College, Peyton Helm of Muhlenburg College, Rebecca Chopp of Swarthmore College, Bobby Fong of Ursinus College and Rev. Peter M. Donohue of Villanova University.

Pennsylvania voters think the federal government should have stricter gun laws, according to the latest poll from Quinnipiac University. The poll found 60 percent of those polled are in favor of stricter laws, while 5 percent thought the laws should be less strict and 32 percent thought the laws should be kept the same.

Of those polled, 95 percent favored background checks for all gun buyers.

"Pennsylvanians join voters in Virginia and New Jersey, states where Quinnipiac University has found overwhelming support for background checks for every gun purchase," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute in a press release.

When it comes to assault weapons, 60 percent favored a national ban with 37 percent opposing it. The split was about the same for a national ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets with 59 percent in favor of the ban and 39 percent opposing it.

"Keystone State voters, especially voters in urban areas, seem to have had enough of gun violence’” Malloy said. “By large margins, voters don't think assault weapons belong in the hands of any gun owner. Restrict the firepower of assault weapons or ban them entirely, Pennsylvanians say.” 

The Quinnipiac University poll surveyed 1,221 registered voters between January 22 and 27. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.

So what do you think about gun laws? Should background checks be mandatory? Should assault weapons be banned? How about high-capacity magazines? Share your thoughts in the comments area below.

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Jack Minster March 8, 2013 at 07:31 pm
Morgan,
Fact correction: I'm related to a current Brown RC who was taught to use "Phe", expected use it in all dealings. Perhaps I should also have included Google in with the media as another source from which second-hand brains in the absence of ideas can go keyword searching and borrow ideas from others or make lame, time-wasting attempts at fact-check-challenges to nit-pic and divert from the proferred kernel of logic that self-righteous second-handers like Sharpton, Jackson and lame-brains in this this thread have taken political correctness far past the point of reasonable. Did you have a valid point you wished to make in defense of overblown political correctness, Morgan? I failed to find one in your emotion-gasm. You seem wound a bit tight but over what, one cannot discern.
Earle Leo Nelson Jr. March 8, 2013 at 07:32 pm
Its so funny how a poll of 1000 or maybe even 2 thousand people can represent the millions of people in 1 state's opinion. How screwed can a poll be? Take a poll of how many people want Milk with dinner or want soda poll say 20 and then use it to decide what we should all have. Tell me that wasn't the stupidest thing you have ever heard, well that's what polls mean absolutely nothing when you ask 1000-2000 to decide what millions want.
Jill March 8, 2013 at 07:33 pm
Morgan, I am amused by your love of words. You obviously love streaming them together in a long flowing nonsensical way. I envision you sitting there with your torn and worn thesaurus! You love to hear yourself and I'm sure you read and reread your own posts slapping yourself on the back. I have to reread your posts because it's difficult to follow you. I am confident that you are quite impressed with yourself. You don't even come close to Joe, Jack or Ron and their well thought out and impressive posts. You fit right in with the likes of Wilfredo and Nazaretti.
kevin March 8, 2013 at 07:47 pm
Never heard of a representative sample- he wants to directly ask 300 million people
kevin March 8, 2013 at 07:56 pm
morgan king does have issues with forcing large words when simplicity will do. I made a comment on patch once on a story about your favorite frozen yogurt store and he replied to my comment with some rediculous line about the 'excrable pablum' they play for in-store music. Just because you can use it doesnt mean you should.
That being said, you filthy backwards conservatives who love guns and dead children and think you're smarter than ANYONE have plenty to learn, so maybe you should listen to his big words and hope a little intelligence rubs off.
Nazaretti March 8, 2013 at 08:55 pm
Morgan,
Welcome to the Sane People's Society!
Jack Minster March 8, 2013 at 08:56 pm
The Constitution and Supreme Court ruling on DC vs Heller protects individual (minority) right to gun ownership from potential referendum (polls or ballot) majority infringement.
To morph this nation of legal gun owners into illegal criminalized gun owners would require a Constitutional Amendment. Pennsylvania legislators are not planning to infringe on PA legal gun owners. Nor are they reading these threads. Legislators in New Jersey, New York, and California welcome gun-haters and tax-spend progressive liberal socialists. They defy the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court. These states and Europe seem a better fit for some Montgo residents. Just sayin'.
WILFREDO G. SALCEDO, Sr. March 8, 2013 at 08:58 pm
Joe...I'd much rather have Obama's policies obtaining nowadays than dwell on the previous (Bush's) administration...That was an awful mess, after depleting the surplus Bill Clinton accumulated for us...Glad we are out of it...Did I just see the unemployment No. of 7.7% not 8?..We are getting there, albeit slowly, thanks to the "Just Say No" Congress...Of course, the privilege of ignoring (blinders on) the man's accomplishments is completely yours...This is how it works in a politics...One belongs to one party and one to another, and ne'er the ends shall meet...The Democrats' policies trump the Republicans' hands down!...So root for your side and I'll do mine...Deal?
Tim Lewis March 8, 2013 at 08:59 pm
Kevin, that's just ridiculous, and exactly why we never get anywhere - do you REALLY think conservatives love dead children? If not, why the flaming rhetoric? If so, then you, and people like you, are so small minded that it is actually quite breath-taking.
tracystough March 8, 2013 at 09:22 pm
okay...second and last comment from me...do you folks have jobs that allow you to type on blogs or threads all day long? uh oh...i asked about jobs, surely I'll get some reference to the jobless rate and obama, etc...even though this all started BACK IN FEBRUARY about gun laws...GEEZ...let it go! Please Patch...remove this article from your pages...I'm all for spirited debates, but 756 comments for an article this old? especially when it keeps going off topic and i'd bet there are so many repeat comments...Good Day and Good Luck:)
WILFREDO G. SALCEDO, Sr. March 8, 2013 at 09:28 pm
Jill, why so bitter?..State your case and we'll state ours...There's no need for insults (kool aide, lost cause)...Of course, you worked hard and sacrificed, so does everyone...Which people are sticking their hands in your pocket?..If you mean taxes, why we do them, too...The government is here to help us and occasionally offer guidelines for good behavior...Cigarettes, sugary drinks, kool aid...You can take them or leave them, it's your call.
Jack Minster March 8, 2013 at 09:46 pm
Morgan, you opened with the question, Has your tax rate changed significantly?
You assume everyone reading this is in your bracket. The new top marginal income tax rate of 39.6% on annual income in excess of $400,000 per year will have a direct impact on about 7/10 of 1% of taxpayers. However, the income earned by these taxpayers in excess of the $400,000 threshold accounts for about 9.5% of aggregate personal income. Had Obama prevailed in the fiscal cliff negotiations, and the marginal income tax rate increased for incomes in excess of $200,000, higher marginal rates would have directly affected about 2.6% of taxpayers. The income earned by taxpayers in excess of the $200,000 threshold accounts for about 14.7% of aggregate personal income. Changes in marginal tax rates have incentive effects as well as indirect effects on workers and consumers not subject to the higher marginal rates. The economic debate over raising marginal tax rates on high income earners centers on the magnitude of the disincentives for work, saving, investment, and job creation caused by higher marginal tax rates. As high income earners change their behavior in response to the reduced incentives to earn income, all consumers and workers will be impacted by the new top marginal rate. Anyone wondering why unemployment is so high under Obama compared to past recoveries should ask the ONE PERCENTERS who are firing & cutting hours. Or Phil Mickelson. Skin in game, Morgan?
tracystough March 8, 2013 at 10:15 pm
@Andrew...thanks for the advice...wow, never thought of that one;) however, as i stated later, doesn't anyone on this thread have a job? seems like alot of free time on your hands:) also, some (a large portion) of this thread has gotten so off topic that it's actually silly now...but again, thanks for the advice...i think i'll follow it now:)
Jill March 8, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Wilfredo, I just saw the post where you called me bitter. Lol! I have been called so many names by you Woman loving liberal men! I would have to say that you are the one who sounds bitter. How many times do you have to mention this Ann who thinks Michelle Obama is fat and ugly....who cares? A lot of people think she isn't attractive at all! And she is fat. Why is it racist? Is everything racist when it involves a black person?
Nazaretti March 8, 2013 at 11:22 pm
tracystuff,
I am actually a computer program that responds to other people's posts, so I don't need no stinkin' job. Don't let the door hit you on your way out.
Jack Minster March 8, 2013 at 11:30 pm
Tracy, don't feel offended by the Nazaretti bot. It's just jealous that the little voices speak only to you.
WILFREDO G. SALCEDO, Sr. March 8, 2013 at 11:36 pm
Obviously, you missed my point...Firstly, I did not CALL you bitter...I asked you why you are so bitter because of the way you lace your posts with insults...Must you call people moral elite, kool aid imbibers, lost cause, woman-loving liberal men, lumping posters with those whom you dislike...Sounds more like frustration to me than relevant discussion of issues...And of course, what does the personal feature of Michelle even important in this debate unless this makes you haters happy?..Is she really fat?..Fatter than Laura Bush?
State your point civilly and leave it at that...We will respond in kind...I have no bitterness, just stating my opinions.
Moe March 9, 2013 at 12:24 am
The party that loves dead children is the party that also defends abortion. Don't believe them when the want to ban legal firearm ownership "for the children".
debbie March 9, 2013 at 01:12 am
I personally like guns but hate the fact that children are being killed by them and innocent ppl. Bad guys will always find a way to get guns. This topic can be argued all day long by democrates, republicans and ppl in general....What scares me more is the fact the N. Korea wants us dead and will come up with a missle someday to reach us. Will this conversation be up for grabs then?
Moe March 9, 2013 at 01:22 am
I agree debbie. As a firearm owner myself, it sickens me to see anyone killed by guns, young or old. Damn criminals make the good guys look bad.
debbie March 9, 2013 at 01:51 am
I mean come on ppl. you can go into your kitchen cab. put a few chemicals together and some other items...and you have a home made bomb.....using a gun is the easy way for the bad guy...they are gutless in my opinion....but if comes down to really having to defend my family...I'm ready...always ready.
Jill March 9, 2013 at 02:06 am
The reason this stream has gone on forever is that it's about more than gun control. It's about life control. Conservatives have hit the roof. We are sick of the progressives telling us what to eat, what to drink, what health care we need, what we should believe, what to drive, what to think, how to raise our kids. They tell us we are willing for children and old people to suffer. We love if they just die fast. We want families to be ripped apart....I could go on! We want to be left alone to enjoy the lives we've worked hard to achieve. You people aren't happy and you want to spread your misery around. You don't care about gun laws. You know they don't work. You don't care. You begrudge law biding citizens to own what they feel is necessary to protect themselves. You have the gull to think you know what's best for us. God forbid we don't agree with you. Then we are racist, uncaring, bitter, fat, ugly, homophobes, stingy, liars etc etc...get over yourselves! Yes, you could say I'm a little bitter!
Morgan King March 9, 2013 at 03:59 am
No, Jack, I didn't assume that at all. You may have yourself assumed I assumed that but, as usual, you'd be wrong. Most income brackets have not significantly changed their federal tax rates in many decades, and many of the ones that have changed have fallen. We're all Americans here, we all have 'skin in the game'.
Morgan King March 9, 2013 at 04:13 am
If you think i'm willing to take your word for your 'relative's clearly ridiculous claim as valid, you're even more delusional than I thought. Does the term exist in some circles at Brown? Certainly. Are people being intensely trained to call everybody Phe or risk offense? Of course not. Also, if you thought that was emotional, much less that a universal tool like Google is some sort of crutch (though it has been awfully useful for seeing where you're copying your nonsense from, along with handy resources like the in-context quotes and actual numbers to debunk it with), maybe you're not quite ready to have a conversation on the Internet?
Morgan King March 9, 2013 at 04:20 am
Kevin, Sweet Frog has THE WORST piped-in music! Execrable pablum is what came to mind. Ages ago I used to write pop culture reviews so I apologize to you all if my effortless mastery over the finer, if slightly more obtuse, entities in our shared lexicon strikes you as wallowing in linguistic pretension or masturbatory drain-circling indulgence. That's a joke.
Morgan King March 9, 2013 at 05:44 am
You're certainly right about that - there's a lot more to this than just gun control. We're well over the precipice of a generational change that rebukes copy-pasting easily-debunked rhetoric and are eager to debate core philosophies and promote scientific findings and hard numbers when it comes to steering the growth of our nation over the coming years. Do we value the right to bear arms as a cornerstone of American ethos? Of course. Does that mean that your average Calvin-pissing-on-something Bud-can-shooting black-helicopter-paranoid assault-weapon-enthusiast gets the last word in the modern interpretation of the 2nd Amendment? Of course not.
Ultimately, if you can't respect the lethality of a firearm enough to put up with some DMV-grade time-wasting if it means a handful of violent douchebags have a slightly harder time buying a gun, then, no we don't care about what you feel is necessary to defend yourself from phantom bad guys that will, statistically, never attack you, and will never actually be shot by you. Until conservatives and liberals are willing to have a real conversation on the fundamental purpose of bearing arms in a civil society, this discussion is going to be mired in ineffective idiocy about arbitrary magazine sizes, assault rifle semantics, and the Constitutional right to sport-shooting as a hobby. So, it's easier to get sidetracked by the esoteric than to tackle that head on, hence this meandering thread.
Morgan King March 9, 2013 at 05:51 am
Also, for whatever its worth, if you Chestnut Hill and Mt Airy (or whoever wants to make the drive in) folk ever want to have a few beers and argue about some political crap in person, I'd be totally down for that. Earth? McMenamins? Campbells? I bet we can agree on more than it seems like we would.
ron March 9, 2013 at 05:55 am
@ Jill. I agree. But conservatives must also be carefull not to tell people how to live. Thats why i like a smaller government. Government should be like your butt hole, you know its there but you dont see it very often. Ooops there i go being politically incorrect again. My apologies to those who like to bend over in front of a mirror and look at theirs.
ron March 9, 2013 at 06:09 am
@ Jill. Thanks for the compliment. Go easy on Morgan. If you read his posts on various articals you will see he does care about all people and wants what is best for everyone. He is just very passionate about his beliefs just like we are.
ron March 9, 2013 at 06:24 am
@ Morgan. Thanks for teaching me new words. Although LOL I do curse you everytime i have to run to the dictionary just to figure out what the hell you are trying to say. LOL Just kidding.
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