Got this in my email today - I've already voted.
~~~~~~~~
Texas State Rifle Association Political Action Committee Announcement:
For Immediate Release
Texas State Rifle Association
Addison, Texas
Subject: TSRA Internet Survey to be found at
http://quibblo.com/quiz/IhU2V/Poll-on-R ... iew_quiz=1
May 2, 2007
On May 1, 2007, the Texas Association of Business (TAB) cranked up its attack on SB 534 another notch, by releasing the results of likely one of the most lop-sided and skewed polls in the history of surveys and polling.
It is a well-known fact that you can get any poll to say anything you want by crafting the questions in just the right way, and contacting the right “registered voters.� Allegedly contacting 800 “registered voters� they fail to mention which part of the state these voters came from, claiming only that they were from Texas.
The findings of the poll were about what you would expect. They concluded, by a fairly handy margin, that Texans favor the defeat of SB 534, and that most voters have more respect for the Texas Association of Business than for the NRA.
But even a cursory examination of the poll indicates some troubling facts. Surprisingly, the pollsters thoughtfully released their questions as well, making the slipshod nature of the poll painfully transparent.
Of the interesting facts available in the poll are:
TAB “Fact� Number 1 - 59 percent of “registered voters� agree that business owners should have the right to prohibit employees from storing guns in their locked cars on company-owned property. Also 59 percent of “registered voters� opposed requiring employers to allow this practice.
What TAB elected not to share:
That the proposed law in question applies only to those with a Concealed Handgun License, who have passed one of the most rigorous licensing processes in the United States.
That the criminal record requirements to become a CHL holder are stricter than those to become a police officer in the state of Texas.
That the employee, in order to gain protection from the proposed law, has to prove he is licensed by contacting his employer first.
TAB “Fact� Number 2 – When it come to “issues,� 46 percent of “registered voters� trusted the TAB more than the NRA. Thirty-three percent trusted the NRA over employers.
Issues? Could they possibly have gotten a little more vague? What issues? Employment Law? Corporate Taxation? Immigration Reform? Abortion? Global Warming? Al Gore’s Invention of the Internet? I suspect if they had specified “issues� that were within the niche interests of these one-issue organizations, they might have gotten a reasonable answer, but as it is, this question simply ate up bandwidth and paper.
Even given the vagueness of the question, and the skewed questioning, it is still humorous to note that the NRA took thirty –three percent of the vote, with 20% in the “unsure� or “refuse to answer� columns.
Things that make you go “hmmmmmm…�
The survey reported that 46% of the respondants considered themselves to be hunters.
On the very next question, 15% answered “Yes� to owning a rifle or handgun.
You might be wondering what these people hunt with, and it that thought is crossing your mind, join the club.
In response to this “survey� the Texas State Rifle Association has posted its own online survey at the following URL:
http://quibblo.com/quiz/IhU2V/Poll-on-R ... iew_quiz=1
At that survey, you will find questions that we believe are a bit more appropriate. They actually mentioned CHLs, training requirements, and some about what SB 534 is about. In short, our survey is far more relevant.
We said relevant. We will not pretend it is scientific. But in looking at the poll published by the TAB, we don’t they should have insinuated that theirs was.
Sincerely,
James Dark
Executive Director
Texas State Rifle Association
