TIME/CNN POLL . . . THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS

Fifty-two percent of Americans think the federal government has become so large and powerful that itposes a threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens, but only 27 percent believe that citizens have the right to arm themselves and organize to oppose the government, according to a TIME/CNN poll released today. Aboutcitizen militia groupsthemselves, 80 percent of Americans see them as "dangerous," 63 percent as "a threat to our way of life" and 55 percent say they are "crazy." At the same time, about a quarter of those polled appear to hold views that are at least somewhat in line with these groups: 21 percent see themilitia groups as "patriots,"30 percent described them as "well-intentioned" and 24 percent think Americans have a constitutional right to buy and store large amounts or weapons.