Most gun owners think Obama wants to take away their weapons

A new Gallup poll helps explain why the Associated Press says American bullet makers are working around the clock and can’t keep up with the demand for ammunition.

Gallup found that 55 percent of those who personally own a gun, 53 percent of those with a gun in their household, and 41 percent of all Americans believe Barack Obama “will attempt to ban the sale of guns in the United States while he is president.”

No hard evidence

Gallup Poll editor-in-chief Frank Newport notes that President Obama has never said -- either on the campaign trail or after taking office -- that he intends to push for a ban on the sale of all guns. In fact, in May he signed a law allowing people to carry loaded guns in national parks.

In an October 1-4 poll of 1,013 adults, Gallup found that Republicans are significantly more likely to have a gun than Democrats and significantly more likely to believe Obama is coming for their guns. Some 62 percent of those who identify themselves as Republican or leaning Republican say Obama will attempt to ban the sale of guns. Only 20 percent of Democrats or those who lean Democratic share that fear.

Big geographical differences

When the issue is examined geographically, 47 percent of those who live in the South, 46 percent of those who live in the Midwest, 36 percent of those who live in the West, and 31 percent of those from the East think Obama will try to ban gun sales.

The Gallup survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

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