Texas is more split on the issue than you might have believed
If recent poll numbers are to be believed Texans are more split on the gun issue than you would have thought.
Overall, the University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll finds that you're against gun control, 52-44 percent. James Henson of U-T, who conducted the poll, told KTRH he was somewhat stunned by the results.
“Whenever you see gun numbers in Texas that are divided you are surprised, but then you look at the national numbers and they make sense,” Henson explained.
Some of the other numbers from the poll; you oppose a ban on semi-automatic weapons 49-40 percent, but also support a ban on high capacity magazines 46-45 percent. Jeremy Alcede of Tactical Firearms says these numbers are the result of media scaring people.
“Looking at the current media situation with the doom and gloom, people are not given viable answers or solutions to these shootings,” Alcede said.
Alcede isn’t sure he trusts the numbers.
“They aren’t polling the right people. I’d like to see where they are getting these people from. Everyone I hear from is against more regulation,” Alcede stated.
Henson, who also directs the Texas Politics Project told KTRH he’s confident in the methodology.
“This was a sample of 1,200 self declared registered voters that are then weighted according to voter turnout categories. We get a very good sample here,” Henson explained.
Teachers more comfortable with armed police
A separate poll of more than ten thousand teachers and school workers around the country shows that having cops with guns in schools is a good idea. Brandon Rottinghaus of the University of Houston can see where those teachers are coming from.
“I suspect that people would feel better if police were around in general. They would certainly feel more secure that if something terrible were to happen, there would be somebody there that is trained to deal with it,” Rottinghaus explained.
Rottinghaus said he feels safe on the U-H campus.
“I think it’s a safe campus. There are always enough people around that it never feels like there is any real danger,” Rottinghaus said.
