Bitter?

Arthur C. Brooks, professor at Syracuse and author of Gross National Happiness, takes issue with Barack Obama's bitter outlook.  Far from bitter "In 2006, 36% of gun owners said they were "very happy," while 9% were "not too happy." Meanwhile, only 30% of people without guns were very happy, and 16% were not too happy." 

Interesting.  I guess they are just a small bunch of happy, southern hicks. Not quite.

According to the 2006 General Social Survey, which has tracked gun ownership since 1973, 34% of American homes have guns in them.

It turns out they have the same level of formal education as nongun owners, on average. Furthermore, they earn 32% more per year than nonowners. Americans with guns are neither a small nor downtrodden group.

So approximately one out of every three homes you see around you have guns.  Yet, just how much bitterness do you see in your neighborhood.  These gun-toting folks, contrary to what a typical liberal may think, are actually a very caring and loving group.

In 2002, they were more likely to give money to charity than people without guns (83% to 75%). This charity gap doesn't reflect their somewhat higher incomes. Gun owners were also more likely to give in other ways, such as donating blood. Are gun owners unsentimental? In 2004, they were more likely than those without guns to strongly agree that they would "endure all things" for the one they loved (45% to 37%).

So if the reverse is true, and charitable giving is an indication of gun ownership, I guess these tax records would suggest Barack doesn't own one.  Or maybe he's just not so charitable.  Or....bitter?

(HT: Outside the Beltway)

-Colonel Steve