One quarter of Americans are confused

I just read an article in the New York Times about guns in America. Among its many good points was this tidbit:

86% of gun-owning Americans agree with the statement: "There should be universal background checks on gun sales."

Impressive. You'd think that would encourage Congress to pass a law. But there was also this tidbit:

61% of gun-owning Americans agree with the statement: "Universal background checks on gun sales will reduce gun violence."

Think about that for a moment. It appears to mean that 25% of Americans believe that there should be universal background checks, even though they won't reduce gun violence.

I don't know about you, but my forehead is creased like a freshly plowed hayfield. Why do they want universal background checks, if it won't reduce gun violence? On principal? Because they just like gun regulation?  Maybe 25% of Americans didn't understand the question.

As tempting as it is to make fun, I think I know who that 25% is. It's not that they want background checks on principal, it's that they oppose any connection between gun ownership and gun violence. On principal. 86% of Americans think it's a good idea to keep guns out of the hands of convicted murderers, the criminally insane, and other bad people. It's kind of a no-brainer. But there's a significant minority who've been conditioned to say "No" to any suggestion that guns are a problem.

Add this 25% to the 16% who don't want universal background checks at all, and you get 41%. Nearly half the people in America are persuaded--against all evidence and sense--that controlling access to guns could not possibly curb gun violence.

Just in case anyone thought gun policy isn't about the culture war.