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Poll shows NRA members differ from leadership on gun laws

Posted at 12:06 AM, Jul 25, 2012
and last updated 2012-07-25 00:14:15-04

RICHMOND Va. (WTVR) - “It’s not surprising”, said democratic State Senator Don McEachin –(D) Henrico, when heard that most National Rifle Association members support more gun control.

According to a new survey conducted by pollster, Frank Luntz, shows that 87% of NRA members agree that the second amendment goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.

“NRA members are for gun safety and this is a gun safety approach,” he said.

But one finding that has some lobbyists for the NRA steaming is this: 74% of the NRA members polled support criminal background checks on all gun purchases.

For years, gun lobbyists in Virginia have fought to keep private gun sellers from conducting criminal background checks on buyers and won.

That’s why David Adams, a member of the NRA says the poll is wrong.

“I can tell you that I`m around 50,000 NRA members every year at the national convention, and the vast majority of those folks don`t want any part of any gun control laws,” he said.

In fact, Adams thinks the polled may have flat out lied.

“The fact is, that when you call someone on the phone, and ask them if they are NRA members, there are some that say they are, but are not a paying dues member,” said Adams.

Adams says Luntz’s poll is slanted to the left.

“If the American people wanted more gun control laws, you`d see Congress or you`d see the General Assembly here in Virginia or in other states enacting gun control, but that`s not the case," he said.

“Why can`t he handle the truth? This is polling data. Look at it, dissect it, but deal with the truth of the matter…universal background checks only make sense,” said McEachin.