A new study has found that Americans, including traditionally pro-gun groups, are averse to living near AR-15 owners and neighbors who store guns insecurely. This consensus highlights potential local-level agreement on gun safety practices.

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that across all political and social groups in the United States, there is a strong preference against living near AR-15 rifle owners and neighbors who store guns outside of locked safes. This surprising consensus suggests that when it comes to immediate living environments, Americans’ views on gun control may be less divided than the polarized national debate suggests.

The research was conducted against a backdrop of increasing gun violence and polarization on gun policy in the United States. The United States has over 350 million civilian firearms and gun-related incidents, including accidents and mass shootings, have become a leading cause of death in the country. Despite political divides, the new study aimed to explore whether there’s common ground among Americans in their immediate living environments, focusing on neighborhood preferences related to gun ownership and storage.

  • Flying Squid
    1•25 days ago

    So you’re saying that if I claim “the general public likes chocolate” and you personally don’t like chocolate, it isn’t true?

    • Frog-Brawler
      1•25 days ago

      Correct.

      If you want to say “there’s a percentage of the general population that likes chocolate,” that would be a true statement; but by the same account, it also means “there is a percentage of the general population that does not like chocolate.” The former implies the latter, and when it breaks down like that, you’re really not saying fuck-all.

      Provide some percentages.

      • Flying Squid
        1•25 days ago

        So you do think “general public” means “100% of the population.”

        Good luck getting the rest of the world to agree with you on that. That’s certainly not what I meant.

        • Frog-Brawler
          1•25 days ago

          What % of the public do you need in order to qualify usage of the statement “general public?”

          Is it 51%? That would mean 49% do not agree.

          • Flying Squid
            1•25 days ago

            What part of “that’s certainly not what I meant” is unclear to you?

            Or are you claiming that you know what I meant better than I do?

              • Flying Squid
                1•25 days ago

                I think it’s a little late to be asking me what I meant at this point since you were so sure you knew up until now.