Fear of Guns Tips the Scale : In Orange County 66% back tougher firearm laws

Orange County long has been nationally known for its libertarian sentiment that the best government is the smallest and least intrusive. Nearly half the registered voters call themselves conservatives, and a quarter see themselves as moderates. But now a survey has found that worry about crime in the county is so widespread that two in three residents favor tougher gun control laws--laws that traditionally have been championed by liberals.

The finding stunned both poll-takers and the county’s law enforcement community. But it reflects recognition of a harsh reality of life across the nation: There are too many guns on the streets.

Though the overall crime rate in Orange County has not increased much in recent years--last year it actually declined slightly--gang killings have soared, as have crimes of appalling violence. In too many cases guns have been the weapons of choice.

Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates said the high support for tougher gun control laws was shocking in a conservative county but accurately reflected the public’s fear of crime. The Orange County Annual Survey, conducted by UC Irvine researchers, found crime was the biggest concern of county residents, as it was last year.

The researchers said the percentage favoring stricter gun control laws, 66%, was higher than the figure in a nationwide poll five years ago, 60%. Significantly, the survey results, released this week, also showed the support to be uniform throughout Orange County, in both poor cities and rich ones. Support also extended across age groups.

These facts are worth consideration by the conservative legislators representing the county in Sacramento and Washington the next time gun control comes up for a vote. Knee-jerk responses to the issue and parroting a trite and questionable Second Amendment argument no longer can suffice.