Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 23 June 2017
Americans and guns: It’s complicated

By LISA MARIE PANE firearm or not, have broad
Associated Press exposure to guns. At least
ATLANTA (AP) — Americans two-thirds have lived in a
have long had a complex household with guns and
relationship with guns. about 70 percent have
Now, a new study shows fired a gun.
that the country’s deep The main reason most cited
political divide is reflected for wanting to own a gun?
in attitudes toward gun Protection.
control. Two-thirds of gun owners
The Pew survey released say they own a gun to
Thursday found a sharp protect themselves or loved
drop since 2000 in overall ones. Nearly one-third of
support for gun control gun owners have five or
despite common ground more. Still, just one-quarter
on some key issues. of them said they usually
For example, when people carry a firearm outside the
were asked whether it was home.
more important to protect That willingness to purchase
gun rights or control gun This June 27, 2013 file photo shows a rack of rifles at Firing-Line gun store in Aurora, Colo. a firearm is despite the fact
ownership, 51 percent Associated Press that 44 percent of adults
favored gun control and Barring gun purchases for could be supported by a purchase a firearm would said they personally know
47 percent favored gun people on no-fly lists won GOP-controlled Congress, lower or raise the crime someone who was shot
rights. Compare that with support from 83 percent, although there has been rate. and about one-quarter say
responses in 2000, when while 71 percent of adults, little action on gun issues Republicans have made they or a family member
two-thirds of those surveyed including a small majority since January. the most significant shifts have been threatened or
said they supported gun of gun owners, supported a About half of the public on guns while Democrats intimidated by someone
control measures. federal database tracking said making it more difficult have remained consistent with a gun.
People in the new survey gun sales. to purchase a firearm in their views, said Kim The Pew Research Center
were in broad agreement The survey showed wide would mean fewer mass Parker, Pew’s director of sought to better understand
when asked about specific disparities in how people shootings, while a little over social trends research. Americans’ “complex
gun control measures. view firearms along one-third said it would have “This reflects that the issue relationship” with firearms.
Some 89 percent supported political, gender, racial no impact. has really become more Researchers wanted to see
preventing the mentally and geographic lines. The Most people attribute gun polarized, more driven by people’s views on various
ill from buying guns and gaps come at the start of violence to the ease in partisan attitudes,” Parker policy issues — from safe
84 percent of all adults President Donald Trump’s illegally getting access to said. storage of firearms around
supported background term. a firearm, and the public The study also showed children to limits on who
checks for private sales He is seen as one of the most can’t decide whether that people in the United and where someone can
and at gun shows. gun-friendly presidents and making it easier to legally States, whether they own a carry a gun.q

Detroit judge halts deportation

of more than 100 Iraqi Christians

stay. accept Iraqi nationals than 20 years in Michigan
Goldsmith heard subject to removal from the prisons for second-degree
arguments Wednesday. He U.S. murder. He was accused
said he needs more time “The court took a life- of arranging a shooting
to consider complex legal saving action by blocking that killed an innocent
issues. our clients from being bystander in 1993.
Potential physical harm “far immediately sent back to “He’s 69 years old, he has
outweighs any conceivable Iraq,” Lee Gelernt, deputy two artificial knees, and
interest the government director of the ACLU’s he needs surgery on both
might have in the Immigrants’ Rights Project, eyes. Sending him back to
immediate enforcement said in a release. “They Iraq is unfair,” his son, Victor
By COREY WILLIAMS jurisdiction to hear their of the removal orders should have a chance to Akrawi, told The Detroit
Associated Press plight. before this court can clarify show that their lives are News.q
DETROIT (AP) — A judge on The Justice Department whether it has jurisdiction to in jeopardy if forced to
Thursday temporarily halted had argued that the grant relief to petitioners on return.”
the deportation of more detainees, including many the merits of their claims,” Besides the 114 arrested
than 100 Iraqi Christians who were recently rounded Goldsmith said. in the Detroit area, 85
living in the Detroit area up after decades in the Most of the 114 Iraqis are other Iraqi nationals were
who fear torture and U.S., must go to immigration Chaldean Christians, but arrested elsewhere in the
possible death if sent back court to try to remain in the some are Shiite Muslims country, according to ICE.
to Iraq. U.S., not U.S. District Court. and converts to Christianity. As of April 17, there were
U.S. District Judge Mark But the American Civil They were arrested on or 1,444 Iraqi nationals with
Goldsmith said in a written Liberties Union said they about June 11 and the U.S. final orders of removal from
order that deportation is might be deported before Immigration and Customs the U.S. Eight already have
halted for 14 days while an immigration judge can Enforcement said all have been returned to Iraq.
he decides if his court has consider their requests to criminal convictions. The detainees include Louis
Iraq recently agreed to Akrawi, who served more