Guns

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Guns See also: Crime

Polls listed chronologically. Data are from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older.

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 ą 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 ą 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
		%	%	%	%
	10/1-4/09	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
		%	%	%
	10/1-4/09	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
		%	%	%
	10/1-4/09	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
						.
"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

AP-National Constitution Center Poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media. Sept. 3-8, 2009. N=1,001 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.1.
						.
"Do you think that laws limiting gun ownership infringe on the public's right to bear arms under the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or do you think they do not infringe on the public's right to bear arms?"
						.
		Infringe	Do Not Infringe	Unsure	Refused
		%	%	%	%
	9/3-8/09	55	40	5	1

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. May 14-17, 2009. N=1,010 adults nationwide. MoE ą 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 ą 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 ą 3.
						.
"Do you favor or oppose a nationwide ban on assault weapons?"
						.
		Favor	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	4/22-26/09	54	41	5
						.
"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 ą 3 (for all adults).
						.
"Do you favor or oppose stricter gun control laws in this country?"
						.
		Favor	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	4/21-24/09	51	48	1
	4/22/07	61	36	3
	10/06	61	37	2
	5/02	57	37	6
	1/01	59	39	2
	5/00	67	30	3
	4/00	64	34	2
	9/99	63	35	2
	8/99	63	34	3
	5/99	67	31	1

						.
"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
						.
"What do you think is the best way to reduce gun violence in this country: by passing stricter gun control laws, or by stricter enforcement of existing laws?" Options rotated. Half sample.
						.
		Stricter Laws	Stricter Enforcement	Both (vol.)	Neither (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	4/21-24/09	27	61	5	4	2
	4/22/07	29	52	9	8	1
	4/00	33	53	7	5	2
						.
"Do you or does anyone in your house own a gun, or not?"
						.
		Yes	No
		%	%
	4/21-24/09	41	58
	6/12-15/08	42	58
	4/22/07	45	55
	10/06	42	58
	10/02	41	59
	5/00	45	55
	4/00	43	56
	9/99	44	56
	5/99	46	53

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. April 3-5, 2009. N=1,023 adults nationwide. MoE ą 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 ą 2.3.
					.
"Do you support or oppose stricter gun control laws in the United States?"
					.
		Support	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
	7/8-13/08	54	40	5
					.
"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 ą 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 conducted by Abt SRBI. April 23-27, 2008. N=1,502 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3. April 2007 & earlier conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International.
					.
"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

					.
"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
		%	%	%
	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

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Feb. 8-10, 2008. N=1,016 adults nationwide. MoE ą 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 ą 3 (for all adults).
				.
"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

Gallup Poll. Oct. 4-7, 2007. N=1,010 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.
					.
"In terms of gun laws in the United States, which of the following would you prefer to see happen: enforce the current gun laws more strictly and NOT pass new gun laws, or pass new gun laws in addition to enforcing the current laws more strictly?" Options rotated
					.
		Enforce Current Laws	Pass New Laws	Unsure
		%	%	%
	10/4-7/07	58	38	4
	10/9-12/06	53	43	4
	2/8-10/02	60	38	2
	8/29 - 9/5/00	53	45	2
	4/28-30/00	51	44	5

*ABC News* Poll. April 22, 2007. N=788 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.5.
						.
"Would you support or oppose a law requiring a nationwide ban on [see below]?"
						.
		Support	Oppose	Unsure
		%	%	%
						.
	"Semi-automatic handguns, which automatically re-load every time the trigger is pulled"
	4/22/07	55	41	3
						.
	"The sale of assault weapons"
	4/22/07	67	30	3
	5/00	71	27	2
	9/99	77	22	1
	5/99	79	19	2
	6/94	80	18	2
						.
	"People carrying a concealed weapon"
	4/22/07	42	55	3
	9/99	49	48	2
						.
	"The sale of handguns, except to law enforcement officers"
	4/22/07	38	60	3
	5/00	38	59	3
	9/99	32	65	3
						.
"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 ą 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
		%	%	%
	4/20-22/07	33	64	3
	3/00	34	63	4
	8/15/99	35	61	4
	4/99	43	53	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 ą 3.1 (for all adults).
						.
"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 Differ- ence (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 ą 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

Gallup Poll. Oct. 9-12, 2006. N=1,001 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.
						.
"Do you think having a gun in the house makes it a safer place to be or a more dangerous place to be?" Options rotated
						.
		Safer	More Dangerous	Depends (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	10/9-12/06	47	43	7	3
	10/11-14/04	42	46	10	2
	8/29 - 9/5/00	35	51	11	3

Gallup Poll. Oct. 11-14, 2004. N=1,012 adults nationwide. MoE ą 3.
					.
"Are you for or against a law which would make it illegal to manufacture, sell, or possess semi-automatic guns known as assault rifles?"
					.
		For	Against	Unsure
		%	%	%
	10/11-14/04	50	46	4

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 ą 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 ą 3 (for all adults).
						.
"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

Earlier polling on guns

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