25 million gun owners don't vote...ouch!

[darkwater]

Per NRA President on Cam & Co: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfbSQ-Cdb9Y

My one thought, though, is how many of those 25 million non-voting gun owners are criminals who just don't care?

[zvardan]

Or rather, how many of these individuals feel their beliefs are ignored?

[unusedusername]

My one thought, though, is how many of those 25 million non-voting gun owners are criminals who just don't care?

I would guess very few, as there are no reliable numbers that we can use to count the non-legal gun owning population.

I mean, if you own an illegal gun are you just going to tell some random person who calls you, or is taking polls on the street that you own it? Sure, a small population of the very dumb criminals will tell someone they don't know or trust that they are doing illegal things, but most won't.

[Cody_2ZZ]

I can imagine this speaks to the large amount of political disillusionment.

[darkwater]

Or rather, how many of these individuals feel their beliefs are ignored?

If so, then they are totally missing the concept of "strength in numbers", because throwing 25 million into the voting pool in one direction would make a huge impact. Obama won the popular vote in 2008 by a mere 10 million. However, because of our electoral college voting, actual results would really depend on where those 25 million would register to vote.

[dfletcher]

In a way my response is "so what?" Is there an expectation gun owners will vote as a block or on guns alone? From what I read the "vote guns" approach is not widespread among gun owners. I suppose gun owners as a group tend to be conservative, but I know quite a few who would vote for Boxer, Harris or Newsom. That they don't vote is fine by me.

[yellowfin]

With national elections it is far too easy to feel that a single individual vote doesn't make a difference--thus, rather stupidly, a lot of people don't vote on local positions either where their vote makes a significant impact. My experience with people here has shown that they often also think elections are simply a foregone conclusion since the big name and nasty politicians who deserve to be ousted have their districts locked up and win no matter what is supposed to happen. Of course there's also the reasonable suspicion (confirmed often enough yet seemingly never corrected) of voter fraud: vote pro gun and your ballot goes to the bottom of the river.

[CCWFacts]

I know plenty of gun owners here in California who support gun control and think guns should be banned. Just like I know people here who think taxes and wealth redistribution are wonderful but who do all kinds of tricks to avoid paying taxes...

I'm sure we're all aware of the number of Brady Campaign leaders and spokespeople who are gun owners, or who have been busted for gun charges.

"Good for me, but not for thee" is part of liberalism.

[dotalchemy]

I kinda get the reasoning for not voting.

I didn't vote once in any of the UK elections, mainly because regardless of which way you vote over there, you're essentially still going to get pompous twit at the end of it. At the time (and the age I was at), I felt my lack of voting was a statement in itself.

Now, however, if I could vote here, I would without question. There are good people running in elections here - once you weed through the chaff and find them. If only folk would take the time to weed through, instead of voting based on how many Facebook followers a candidate has.

[Sheepdog1968]

Or don't belong to the NRA. There is strength in numbers.

[guntntteacher]

Many don't vote because they are working. Why wait in line with illegals and welfare frauds to exercise a right without any protection for the hobby.

[wheels]

Lovely thing is here in CA the winners are announced before the polls here close...

[umie76]

I vote. ...have for many years. If you know someone who doesn't - slap 'em upside the head. There's just no excuse.

[Window_Seat]

How many of those 25 million GOs are aware that 25 million GOs don't vote?

Erik.

[Seeker]

Ok everyone, make sure you tell all of your gun-owning friends to register to vote and vote against Barack Obama. 'nuff said.