PollingReport.com

Home ] Up ]


Guns (p. 3)


 

.

.

Pew Research Center. July 26-29, 2012. N=1,010 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.6.

.

"What do you think is more important -- to protect the right of Americans to own guns, or to control gun ownership?"

.

Right to
own guns
Control
ownership
Unsure    
% % %    

7/26-29/12

46 47 6    

4/4-15/12

49 45 6    

9/22 - 10/4/11

47 49 5    

2/22 - 3/1/11

48 47 6    

1/13-16/11

49 46 6    

.

8/25 - 9/6/10

46 50 4    

Republicans

70 26 4    

Democrats

30 67 3    

Independents

46 50 4    

.

3/10-14/10

46 46 7    

3/31 - 4/21/09

45 49 6    

4/23-27/08

37 58 5    

11/07

42 55 3    

4/18-22/07

32 60 8    

2/04

37 58 5    

6/03

42 54 4    

5/00

38 57 5    

4/00

37 55 8    

3/00

29 66 5    

6/99

33 62 5    

5/99

30 65 5    

12/93

34 57 9    

 

Time Poll conducted by Abt SRBI. June 20-21, 2011. N=1,003 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

.

"Here are some constitutional issues that the U.S. Supreme Court has issued rulings on in the past few years. Please tell me if you personally strongly agree with each position, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with each of the following. To protect the constitutional rights of gun owners, state and local governments are NOT allowed to ban handguns and concealed weapons, even in high crime areas."

.

Strongly
agree
Somewhat
agree
Somewhat
disagree
Strongly
disagree
Unsure/
Refused
% % % % %

6/20-21/11

37 23 15 23 2

.

"Should the federal government be allowed to ban the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons, except for use by the military or police, or is it more important to protect the rights of gun owners to purchase any guns they wish to purchase?"

.

Allowed
to ban
Protect rights
of gun owners
Unsure/
Refused
% % %

6/20-21/11

62 35 3

.

"Overall, do you think that gun control laws in this country should be more strict than they are now, less strict, or are gun control laws about right now?"

.

More strict Less strict About right Unsure/
Refused
% % % %

6/20-21/11

51 7 39 2

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Jan. 15-19, 2011. N=1,036 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

.

"In general, do you think gun control laws should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are now?"

.

More strict Less strict Kept as they
are now
Unsure  
% % % %  

1/15-19/11

46 13 38 3  

Republicans

27 17 53 3  

Democrats

68 5 25 2  

Independents

42 17 40 1  

.

4/5-12/10

40 16 42 2  

11/10-13/03

51 10 35 4  

.

"Would you favor or oppose a ban on the sale of all handguns, except those that are issued to law enforcement officers?"

.

Favor Oppose Unsure

.

% % %

.

1/15-19/11

32 65 3

.

4/20-22/07

33 64 3

.

3/00

34 63 4

.

8/15/99

35 61 4

.

4/99

43 53 4

.


 

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Jan. 14-16, 2011. N=1,032 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

.

"I'm going to read a list of actions Congress could take this year. Please say whether you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose Congress doing each of the following this year. How about pass stronger gun control laws?"

.

Strongly
favor
Favor Oppose Strongly
oppose
Unsure
% % % % %

1/14-16/11

26 23 23 27 2

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Jan. 13-16, 2011. N=1,053 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

.

"Would you support or oppose increasing federal funding to pay for a system in which people treated for mental illness would be reported to the federal gun registry database, in an effort to prevent them from buying guns?"  Half sample

.

Support Oppose Unsure    
% % %    

1/13-16/11

83 15 2    

.

"Would you support or oppose increasing federal funding to pay for a system in which people treated for drug abuse would be reported to the federal gun registry database, in an effort to prevent them from buying guns?"  Half sample

.

Support Oppose Unsure    
% % %    

1/13-16/11

71 24 5    

 

CBS News Poll. Jan. 9-10, 2011. N=673 adults nationwide first polled by CBS News Dec. 17-20, 2010. Margin of error ± 4.

.

"In general, do you think gun control laws should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are now?"

.

More strict Less strict Kept as they
are now
Unsure  
% % % %  

1/9-10/11

47 12 36 5  

Republicans

24 23 46 7  

Democrats

70 2 25 3  

Independents

41 14 40 5  

.

4/5-12/10

40 16 42 2  

11/10-13/03

51 10 35 4  

.

"Do you think that stricter gun control laws would have done a lot to prevent the violence that occurred this past weekend in Tucson, Arizona, done a little, or had no effect on preventing the violence in Tucson, Arizona?"

.

A lot A little Had no effect It depends
(vol.)
Unsure
% % % % %

1/9-10/11

18 18 58 1 5

Republicans

6 11 76 0 7

Democrats

29 25 42 1 3

Independents

17 16 61 1 5

.

"Do you or does any other member of your household own a handgun, rifle, shotgun, or any other kind of firearm?"

.

Yes: Self Yes: Other Yes: Self
and other
No Unsure
% % % % %

1/9-10/11

20 11 9 58 2

Republicans

26 14 13 41 6

Democrats

11 9 5 75 0

Independents

25 10 10 54 1

 

Gallup Poll. Oct. 7-10, 2010. N=1,025 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

.

"In general, do you feel that the laws covering the sale of firearms should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are now?"

.

More strict Less strict Kept as now Unsure
% % % %
10/7-10/10 44 12 42 2
10/1-4/09 44 12 43 1
10/3-5/08 49 8 41 2
10/4-7/07 51 8 39 2
10/9-12/06 56 9 33 2
10/13-16/05 57 7 35 1
10/11-14/04 54 11 34 1
1/9-11/04 60 6 34 -
10/6-8/03 55 9 36 -
10/14-17/02 51 11 36 2
10/11-14/01 53 8 38 1
5/5-7/00 62 5 31 2
4/00 61 7 30 2
12/99 60 10 29 1
8/99 66 6 27 1
6/99 62 6 31 1
5/99 65 5 28 2
4/99 66 7 25 2
2/99 60 9 29 2
4/95 62 12 24 2
12/93 67 7 25 1
3/12-14/93 70 4 24 2

.

3/21-24/91 68 5 25 2
9/10-11/90 78 2 17 3

.

"Do you think there should or should not be a law that would ban the possession of handguns, except by the police and other authorized persons?"

.

Should Should not Unsure
% % %
10/7-10/10 29 69 1
10/1-4/09 28 71 1
10/3-5/08 29 69 2
10/4-7/07 30 68 2
10/9-12/06 32 66 2
10/13-16/05 35 64 1
10/11-14/04 36 63 1
10/6-8/03 32 67 1
10/14-17/02 32 65 3
8/29 - 9/5/00 36 62 2
4/99 38 59 3
2/99 34 64 2
12/93 39 60 1
3/93 42 54 4
3/91 43 53 4
9/90 41 55 4
1988 37 59 4
10/87 42 50 8
6/81 41 54 5
4/81 39 58 3
12/80 38 51 11
1/80 31 65 4
1975 41 55 4
1965 49 44 7
1959 60 36 4

.

"Now, thinking about your own situation: Do you have a gun in your home?"

.

Yes No Unsure
% % %
10/7-10/10 39 59 2
10/1-4/09 40 57 4
10/3-5/08 42 56 2
10/4-7/07 42 57 1
10/9-12/06 43 54 3
10/13-16/05 40 59 1
10/11-14/04 38 61 1
10/6-8/03 43 56 1

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. April 5-12, 2010. N=1,580 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"In states where it is legal to openly carry a gun, should private businesses like stores and restaurants be able to prohibit customers from openly carrying guns in their establishments, or should those customers be allowed to openly carry guns into the stores and restaurants?"

.

Should be
able to
prohibit
Should be
allowed to
openly carry
Depends
(vol.)
Unsure  
% % % %  

4/5-12/10

74 21 3 2  

 

Pew Research Center. March 10-14, 2010. N=1,500 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Thinking about gun laws: Do you think state and local governments should or should not be able to pass laws that ban the possession or sale of handguns in their jurisdictions?"

.

Should Should not Unsure    
% % %    

3/10-14/10

45 50 5    

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Oct. 22-25, 2009. N=1,009 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.

"Do you favor or oppose a law to ban the sale of assault weapons and semiautomatic rifles?"

.

Favor Oppose Unsure    
% % %    

10/22-25/09

49 45 6    

4/23-26/09

53 41 6    

5/91

75 22 3    

7/90

73 23 4    

 

Gallup Poll. Oct. 1-4, 2009. N=1,013 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"Just your best guess, do you think Barack Obama will attempt to ban the sale of guns in the United States while he is president, or not?"

.

Will Will not Unsure
% % %
10/1-4/09 41 52 7

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. May 14-17, 2009. N=1,010 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Which of the following comes closer to your interpretation of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution? In addition to addressing the need for citizen-militias, it was intended to give individual Americans the right to keep and bear arms for their own defense. It was only intended to preserve the existence of citizen-militias, and does not give individual Americans the right to keep and bear arms for their own defense."

.

Individual
Gun Ownership
Only
Citizen-Militias
Unsure    
% % %    

5/14-17/09

77 21 2    

.

Asked of those who think it gives individuals the right to keep and bear arms:
"Which comes closer to your view? Gives individual Americans the right to keep and bear arms for their own defense and without any restrictions on gun ownership. Gives individual Americans the right to keep and bear arms for their own defense with some restrictions on gun ownership. Gives individual Americans the right to keep and bear arms for their own defense but not sure about restrictions."
Combined results of both questions:

.

No Restrictions
On Gun
Ownership
Some
Restrictions
On Gun
Ownership
Not Sure About
Restrictions On
Gun Ownership
Only
Citizen-Militias
(From Preceding
Question)
Unsure
% % % % %

5/14-17/09

23 54 - 21 2

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. May 12-13, 2009. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Which of the following do you think is more likely to decrease gun violence: better enforcement of existing gun laws or more laws and restrictions on obtaining guns?"

.

Better
Enforcement
More Laws and
Restrictions
Both (vol.) Unsure
% % % %

5/12-13/09

47 34 10 8

3/22-23/00

41 37 14 8

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. April 22-26, 2009. N=973 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"In general, do you feel the laws covering the sale of handguns should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are now?"

.

More strict Less strict Kept as
they are
Unsure  
% % % %  

4/22-26/09

60 7 32 1  

4/20-22/07

66 4 28 2  

5/10-13/00

71 3 26 1  

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. April 21-24, 2009. N=1,072 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you think stricter gun control laws would reduce the amount of violent crime in this country, or not?" Half sample

.

Would Would not Unsure    
% % %    

4/21-24/09

42 57 2    

4/22/07

49 50 2    

4/00

51 48 2    

9/99

50 48 1    

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. April 3-5, 2009. N=1,023 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Would you like to see gun laws in this country made more strict, less strict, or remain as they are?"

.

More Strict Less Strict Remain as
They Are
Unsure  
% % % %  

4/3-5/09

39 15 46 -  

5/4-6/07

50 9 40 1  

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. July 8-13, 2008. N=1,783 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 2.3.

.

"Would you support or oppose amending the United States Constitution to ban individual gun ownership?"

.

Support Oppose Unsure    
% % %    

7/8-13/08

17 78 6    

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. June 4-5, 2008. N=1,035 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Part of the debate about gun ownership hinges on how we interpret the U.S. constitution. The exact words of the constitution are as follows: 'A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon.' Do you think these words guarantee each person the right to own a gun, or do they protect the right of citizens to form a militia without implying that each individual has the right to own a gun?"

.

Right of
Each Person
To Own a Gun
Right of
Citizens to
Form a Militia
Unsure    
% % %    

6/4-5/08

67 30 4    

12/6-9/07

65 31 5    

.

"Thinking about specific ways that the government has dealt with guns in the past, do you favor or oppose each of the following? . . ."

.

Favor Oppose Unsure    
% % %    

.

"Preventing certain people, such as convicted felons or people with mental health problems, from owning guns"

6/4-5/08

88 12 1    

.

"Requiring people who purchase a gun to wait a certain number of days before they receive that gun"

6/4-5/08

86 14 -    

.

"Requiring gun owners to register their guns with the local government"

6/4-5/08

79 20 -    

.

"Limiting the number of guns an individual can own"

6/4-5/08

51 48 1    

.

"Preventing gun owners from carrying a concealed gun in public"

6/4-5/08

48 52 1    

.

"Preventing all Americans from owning guns"

6/4-5/08

13 87 -    

 

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey. April 23-27, 2008. N=1,502 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Would you favor or oppose a law that banned the sale of handguns?"

.

Favor Oppose Unsure    
% % %    

4/23-27/08

36 59 5    

4/18-22/07

37 55 8    

3/15-19/00

47 47 6    

9/99

46 50 4    

5/99

44 50 6    

12/93

45 51 4    

 

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Feb. 8-10, 2008. N=1,016 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Would you like to see gun laws in this country made more strict, less strict, or remain as they are?"

.

More Strict Less Strict Remain
As Are
Unsure  
% % % %  
2/8-10/08 49 11 38 2  
1/4-6/08 47 13 36 3  
1/15-18/07 49 14 35 2  
1/9-12/06 51 14 32 2  
1/3-5/05 52 12 35 1  
1/04 53 12 34 1  
1/03 51 15 33 1  
1/02 53 14 32 1  
1/01 54 14 31 1  

.

"Do you believe the Second Amendment to the U.S. constitution guarantees the rights of Americans to own guns, or do you believe it only guarantees members of state militias such as National Guard units the right to own guns?"

.

Guarantees
Rights of
Americans
Guarantees
Members of
State Militias
Unsure    
% % %    

2/8-10/08

73 20 7    

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Dec. 6-9, 2007. N=1,002 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Part of the debate about gun ownership hinges on how we interpret the U.S. constitution. The exact words of the constitution are as follows: 'A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon.' Do you think these words guarantee each person the right to own a gun, or do they protect the right of citizens to form a militia without implying that each individual has the right to own a gun?"

.

Right of
Each Person
To Own a Gun
Right of
Citizens to
Form a Militia
     
% %      

ALL adults

65 31      

    Men

72 26      

    Women

58 35      

    Urban

50 42      

    Suburban

64 32      

    Rural

73 23      

 

ABC News Poll. April 22, 2007. N=788 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.5.

.

"Would you support or oppose a law requiring a nationwide ban on [see below]?"

.

Support Oppose Unsure    
% % %    

.

"People carrying a concealed weapon"

   4/22/07

42 55 3    

   9/99

49 48 2    

.

"If you agreed with a political candidate on other issues, but not on the issue of gun control, could you still vote for that candidate, or not?"

.

Could Could Not Unsure    
% % %    

4/22/07

60 31 9    

.

"Which of the following do you think is the primary cause of gun violence in America: the availability of guns, the way parents raise their children, or the influence of popular culture such as movies, television, and the Internet?" Options rotated

.

Availability
Of Guns
Way Parents
Raise Kids
Popular
Culture
Other (vol.) Unsure
% % % % %

4/22/07

18 35 40 5 2

.

"Do you think states should or should not be required to report mentally ill people to a federal database, in order to prevent them from buying guns?"

.

Should Should Not Unsure    
% % %    

4/22/07

83 13 4    

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. April 20-22, 2007. N=644 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"Do you think that stricter gun control laws would have done a lot to prevent the violence at Virginia Tech last week, done a little, or had no effect on preventing the violence at Virginia Tech last week?"

.

A Lot A Little No Effect It Depends
(vol.)
Unsure
% % % % %

4/20-22/07

32 21 43 1 3

.

"Do you think that allowing adults to carry concealed handguns would have reduced some of the violence at Virginia Tech last week, would have made the violence there worse, or would that have had no effect on the violence there?"

.

Reduced Made Worse No Effect It Depends
(vol.)
Unsure
% % % % %

4/20-22/07

23 25 45 3 4

 

Associated Press-Ipsos poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs. April 17-19, 2007. N=996 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.

"Should gun laws be made more strict, less strict, or remain as they are?"

.

More Strict Less Strict Remain as
They Are
Unsure  
% % % %  

4/17-19/07

47 11 38 4  

.

"How serious a problem is gun violence today . . . ?"

.

Very
Serious
Somewhat
Serious
Not Too
Serious
Not at All
Serious
Unsure
% % % % %

4/17-19/07

62 25 8 4 1

.

"How often do you worry about becoming a victim of gun violence . . . ?"

.

Frequently Occasionally Rarely Never  
% % % %  

4/17-19/07

12 23 33 32  

.

"Are you a gun owner, or not?"

.

Yes No      
% %      

4/17-19/07

32 67      

10/4-6/04

31 68      

9/7-9/04

33 67      

.

"Do you personally know anyone who has been a victim of a crime that involved a gun in the past three years, or not?"

.

Yes No      
% %      

4/17-19/07

22 78      

.

Asked of those who know a recent victim of a gun crime:
"Did this incident cause you to consider buying a gun, or not?"

.

Yes No      
% %      

4/17-19/07

23 77      

.

"Would you be more or less likely to support a candidate for president who favors stricter gun control laws?"

.

More likely Less likely No difference
(vol.)
Unsure  
% % % %  

4/17-19/07

55 32 11 3  

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. April 17-18, 2007. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you think tougher gun laws can help stop things like the Virginia Tech school shooting, or do you think the people who commit these kinds of acts will always find guns?"

.

Tougher
Laws Can
Help Stop
Will Always
Find Guns
Laws Help,
But Still Find
Guns (vol.)
Unsure
% % % %

4/17-18/07

19 71 7 3

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Sept. 17-19, 2004. N=1,006 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"As you may know, the federal ban on assault weapons has expired, and certain types of guns that were banned in 1994 can now be legally sold again. Overall, are you satisfied that this law has expired, dissatisfied that it has expired, or does it not make a difference to you either way?"

.

%
Satisfied 12
Dissatisfied 61
No difference 25
Not sure 2

 

The Harris Poll. Sept. 9-13, 2004. N=1,018 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"In general, would you say you favor stricter gun control, or less strict gun control?"

.

Stricter Less Strict Neither (vol.) Unsure
% % % %
9/04 60 32 4 3
5/00 63 28 6 4
6/99 63 25 10 2
4/98 69 23 7 1

.

"A ban prohibiting the sales of assault rifles and high capacity ammunition magazines expires on September 14. Would you favor or oppose continuing this ban?"

.

Favor Oppose Unsure
% % %
ALL 71 26 4
Republicans 72 25 3
Democrats 72 27 1
Independents 74 22 3

Guns continued


HOME | TABLE OF CONTENTS | SEARCH THE SITE

Copyright © 2020 POLLING REPORT, INC., and polling/sponsoring organizations