Like a One-Legged Bar Stool

From the Illinois State Rifle Association:

Brady Gun Control Campaign All Wet, Say Nation's Top Cops

The very foundations of the gun control movement were rocked today by the results of a survey taken by the National Association of Chiefs of Police (NACOP). In a nutshell, the survey shows that the nation's top law enforcement officers believe that average citizens can be trusted to responsibly own firearms; that criminals ignore gun control laws; and that concealed carry laws reduce crime.

These revelations come as a stark contrast to gun control movement propaganda that asserts that police officials feel that our streets would be safer if law-abiding citizens were disarmed.

The numbers from the survey:

The following survey questions were posed by mail of 22,587 Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs in the United States. It represents a cross section of professional command officers involving every state. The survey was conducted for the 17th consecutive year by the National Association of Chiefs of Police.

[snip]

FIREARMS

3. Should any law-abiding citizen be able to purchase a firearm for sport or self-defense? YES 93.6%

4. Within the past year, has your agency been called upon to arrest anyone who has made a false statement on an application to purchase a firearm? NO 92.2%

5. Should anyone (such as a convicted felon) in violation of state or federal firearm possession laws, be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney and, if convicted, receive a maximum prison term? YES 89.7%

6. Do you believe law-abiding citizens should be limited to the purchase of no more than one firearm per month? NO 72.8%

7. Do you maintain that criminals currently are able to obtain basically any type of firearm by illegal means? YES 96.1%

8. Do you believe the application & training process to allow commerical airline pilots to carry firearms in the cockpit is too restrictive and burdensome? NO 53.6%

9. Will a national concealed handgun permit reduce rates of violent crime as recent studies in some states have already reflected? YES 63.1%

So, whose team are Sarah Brady, Dianne Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, and Rosie O'Donnell going to bat for? As if I have to ask.

One point, with which I do take issue, is the wording of Question #5. Given the sheer volume of Massachusetts' convoluted and confusing firearms laws, it isn't hard to imagine a scenario where a licensed gun-owner can run afoul of the law and not even realize it.