‘Red Flag’ Gun Laws Survey Reveals American’s Distrust in Government and Local Authority

With the so-called “Red Flag” gun laws looming in many state legislators and possibly on the federal level, a new poll suggests the majority of independents and Republicans — and, yes, even some Democrats — believe those laws could pave the way for government officials to abuse and disarm citizens. 

Convention of States Action, a grassroots movement of about 2.4 million supporters to restore self-governance in America, conducted a new national survey in partnership with the polling firm The Trafalgar Group, which asked more than 1,000 likely 2022 election voters about such laws that the Democrats — and, yes, even some Republicans — are working to advance in the Senate.

“Government officials at all levels have spent the last two years demonizing their opponents and using whatever means possible to censor or threaten those who disagree with them,” Mark Meckler, President of Convention of States Action, said in a statement. “So the idea that we should now trust those same people to not abuse a law that could infringe on basic constitutional rights is laughable.”  

The survey asked respondents whether or not they believe that “red flag” gun control laws would cause a slippery slope for government and law enforcement to abuse their authority by disarming political opponents and/or citizens who disagree with them.

Survey results showed that 72.2 percent of Republicans, 52.3 percent of independents, and 16.4 percent of Democrats believe the powers that be would potentially abuse those laws.

However, 14.1 percent of Republicans, 23.3 percent of independents, and 53.5 Democrats believe there is no risk of government officials and local authorities abusing “red flag” gun laws — leaving the remainder undecided.

“Americans want real, workable solutions to the mass shootings we are seeing in this nation, but it’s obvious that they don’t see the proposed ‘red flag’ laws as the answer,” Meckler said. “More and more Americans are coming to the conclusion that the government abuses any power it’s given, and they are responding accordingly.”

Earlier this week, more than a dozen Republican senators, including Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), joined the majority of Democrats to pass a procedural vote, 64 to 34, of the controversial 80-page legislation two hours after the bill began circulating. 

Fox News reported the bill would provide grants for states that adopt their own red flag laws and offer additional funding for school safety measures and mental health services. 

“The measure also creates penalties for straw purchases of firearms, requires more gun sellers to register as Federally Licensed Firearm Dealers, and closes the so-called boyfriend loophole by prohibiting gun access for people convicted of domestic abuse against an intimate partner,” Fox News noted of the legislation.

The National Association for Gun Rights posted a tweet Tuesday that accused nine out of the top 11 highest NRA-funded Republican senators of “selling out” Americans’ gun rights.

Those senators include Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Richard Burr (R-NC), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Rob Portman (R-OH), Todd Young (R-IN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Pat Toomey (R-PA).

The bill is expected to pass later this week by the Senate and head to the House before landing on President Biden’s desk.