

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 |
Less |
Kept |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| 2009 Oct 1-4 |
44 |
12 |
43 |
1 |
|
2008 Oct 3-5 |
49 |
8 |
41 |
2 |
|
2007 Oct 4-7 |
51 |
8 |
39 |
2 |
|
2006 Oct 9-12 |
56 |
9 |
33 |
2 |
|
2005 Oct 13-16 |
57 |
7 |
35 |
1 |
|
2004 Oct 11-14 |
54 |
11 |
34 |
1 |
|
60 |
6 |
34 |
* |
|
|
2003 Oct 6-8 |
55 |
9 |
36 |
* |
|
2002 Oct 14-17 |
51 |
11 |
36 |
2 |
|
2001 Oct 11-14 |
53 |
8 |
38 |
1 |
|
2000 May 5-7 |
62 |
5 |
31 |
2 |
|
2000 Apr 7-9 |
61 |
7 |
30 |
2 |
|
1999 Dec 9-12 |
60 |
10 |
29 |
1 |
|
1999 Aug 3-4 |
66 |
6 |
27 |
1 |
|
1999 Jun 25-27 |
62 |
6 |
31 |
1 |
|
1999 May 23-24 |
65 |
5 |
28 |
2 |
|
1999 Apr 26-27 |
66 |
7 |
25 |
2 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
60 |
9 |
29 |
2 |
|
1995 Apr 23-24 ^ |
62 |
12 |
24 |
2 |
|
1993 Dec 17-19 |
67 |
7 |
25 |
1 |
|
1993 Mar 12-14 |
70 |
4 |
24 |
2 |
|
1991 Mar 21-24 |
68 |
5 |
25 |
2 |
|
1990 Sep 10-11 |
78 |
2 |
17 |
3 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
||||
|
^ Asked of half sample |
||||
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 |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
| 2009 Oct 1-4 |
28 |
71 |
1 |
|
2008 Oct 3-5 |
29 |
69 |
2 |
|
2007 Oct 4-7 |
30 |
68 |
2 |
|
2006 Oct 9-12 |
32 |
66 |
2 |
|
2005 Oct 13-16 |
35 |
64 |
1 |
|
2004 Oct 11-14 |
36 |
63 |
1 |
|
2003 Oct 6-8 |
32 |
67 |
1 |
|
2002 Oct 14-17 |
32 |
65 |
3 |
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
36 |
62 |
2 |
|
1999 Apr 26-27 |
38 |
59 |
3 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
34 |
64 |
2 |
|
1993 Dec 17-19 |
39 |
60 |
1 |
|
1993 Mar 12-14 |
42 |
54 |
4 |
|
1991 Mar 21-24 |
43 |
53 |
4 |
|
1990 Sep 10-11 |
41 |
55 |
4 |
|
1988 Jul 1-7 |
37 |
59 |
4 |
|
1987 Oct |
42 |
50 |
8 |
|
1981 Jun |
41 |
54 |
5 |
|
1981 Apr |
39 |
58 |
3 |
|
1980 Dec |
38 |
51 |
11 |
|
1980 Jan |
31 |
65 |
4 |
|
1975 |
41 |
55 |
4 |
|
1965 |
49 |
44 |
7 |
|
1959 |
60 |
36 |
4 |
Do you have a gun in your home?
|
Yes |
No |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
| 2009 Oct 1-4 |
40 |
57 |
4 |
|
2008 Oct 3-5 |
42 |
56 |
2 |
|
2007 Oct 4-7 |
42 |
57 |
1 |
|
2006 Oct 9-12 |
43 |
54 |
3 |
|
2005 Oct 13-16 |
40 |
59 |
1 |
|
2004 Oct 11-14 |
38 |
61 |
1 |
|
2003 Oct 6-8 |
43 |
56 |
1 |
|
2002 Oct 14-17 |
41 |
58 |
1 |
|
2001 Oct 11-14 |
40 |
59 |
1 |
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
39 |
60 |
1 |
|
2000 Apr 7-9 |
42 |
57 |
1 |
|
1999 Apr 26-27 |
34 |
64 |
2 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
36 |
62 |
2 |
|
1997 Aug 22-25 |
42 |
57 |
1 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
44 |
54 |
2 |
|
1996 Jul 25-28 |
38 |
60 |
2 |
|
1993 Dec 17-21 |
49 |
50 |
* |
|
1993 Oct 13-18 |
51 |
48 |
1 |
|
1993 Mar 12-14 |
48 |
51 |
1 |
|
1991 May 16-19 |
46 |
53 |
1 |
|
1991 Mar 21-24 |
48 |
51 |
1 |
|
1990 Sep 10-11 |
47 |
52 |
1 |
|
1989 Feb 28-Mar 2 |
47 |
51 |
2 |
|
1985 Apr 12-15 |
44 |
55 |
1 |
|
1983 May 13-16 |
40 |
58 |
2 |
|
1980 Jan 2 |
45 |
53 |
2 |
|
1975 Oct 3-6 |
44 |
54 |
2 |
|
1972 May 23 |
43 |
55 |
2 |
|
1968 |
50 |
50 |
-- |
|
1965 Jan 7-12 |
48 |
52 |
-- |
|
1959 Jul 23-28 |
49 |
51 |
-- |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||
Do you have a gun in your home? Do you have a gun anywhere else on your property such as in your garage, barn, shed or in your car or truck? [COMBINED RESPONSES]
|
Gun |
Gun |
No |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| 2009 Oct 1-4 |
40 |
2 |
55 |
4 |
|
2008 Oct 3-5 |
42 |
1 |
55 |
1 |
|
2007 Oct 4-7 |
42 |
2 |
55 |
1 |
|
2005 Oct 13-16 |
40 |
2 |
57 |
1 |
|
2004 Oct 11-14 |
38 |
2 |
59 |
1 |
|
2003 Oct 6-8 |
43 |
2 |
54 |
1 |
|
2002 Oct 14-17 |
41 |
3 |
55 |
1 |
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
39 |
2 |
58 |
1 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
36 |
6 |
56 |
2 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
44 |
1 |
53 |
2 |
|
1996 Jul 25-28 |
38 |
2 |
58 |
2 |
|
1993 Dec 17-21 |
49 |
5 |
45 |
* |
|
1991 May 16-19 |
46 |
4 |
49 |
1 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
||||
Do you personally own a gun, or do the gun or guns in your household belong to another household member?
|
Personally |
Other |
No gun |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| 2009 Oct 1-4 |
29 |
13 |
55 |
4 |
|
2008 Oct 3-5 |
30 |
13 |
55 |
1 |
|
2007 Oct 4-7 |
28 |
16 |
55 |
1 |
|
2005 Oct 13-16 |
30 |
12 |
57 |
1 |
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
27 |
14 |
58 |
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?
|
Yes, will |
No, will not |
No opinion |
|
|
2009 Oct 1-4 |
41% |
52 |
7 |
Would you like to see gun laws in this country made more strict, less strict, or remain as they are?
|
More |
Less |
Remain |
Other |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 Jan 4-6 |
47 |
13 |
36 |
* |
3 |
|
2007 Jan 15-18 |
49 |
14 |
35 |
* |
2 |
|
2006 Jan 9-12 |
51 |
14 |
32 |
* |
2 |
|
2005 Jan 3-5 |
52 |
12 |
35 |
* |
1 |
|
2004 Jan 12-15 |
53 |
12 |
34 |
* |
1 |
|
2003 Jan 13-16 |
51 |
15 |
33 |
* |
1 |
|
2002 Jan 7-9 |
53 |
14 |
32 |
* |
1 |
|
2001 Jan 10-14 |
54 |
14 |
31 |
* |
1 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|||||
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 |
Only |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 Feb 8-10 |
73 |
20 |
7 |
|
Gun owners ^ |
91 |
6 |
3 |
|
Gun non-owners ^ |
63 |
28 |
9 |
|
^ Based on 373 gun owners; ±6 pct. pts.; Based on 630 gun non-owners; ±4 pct. pts. |
|||
In terms of gun laws in the United States, which of the following would you prefer to see happen -- [ROTATE: 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]?
|
Enforce |
Pass new laws |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2007 Oct 4-7 |
58 |
38 |
4 |
|
2006 Oct 9-12 |
53 |
43 |
4 |
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
60 |
38 |
2 |
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
53 |
45 |
2 |
|
2000 Apr 28-30 ^ |
51 |
44 |
5 |
|
^ Asked of half sample |
|||
Have you, personally, ever fired a gun, or not?
|
Yes, have |
No, have not |
No opinion |
|
|
2007 Oct 4-7 |
69% |
31 |
* |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||
Do you personally own a handgun, rifle, shotgun or any other kind of firearm?
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2007 May 10-13 |
30 |
69 |
1 |
|
2007 May 4-6 |
32 |
65 |
2 |
|
2004 Nov 19-21 |
31 |
66 |
3 |
|
2004 Oct 29-31 ^ |
32 |
66 |
2 |
|
2000 May 5-7 |
33 |
64 |
2 |
|
^ Asked of a half sample |
|||
Do you think having a gun in the house makes it -- [ROTATED: a safer place to be (or) a more dangerous place to be]?
|
Safer |
More |
Depends |
No |
|
|
2006 Oct 9-12 |
47% |
43 |
7 |
3 |
|
2004 Oct 11-14 |
42% |
46 |
10 |
2 |
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
35% |
51 |
11 |
3 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
Next, please tell me whether you own a gun for each of the following reasons. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
[BASED ON ADULTS WHO PERSONALLY OWN A GUN]
A. For hunting
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
2005 Oct 13-16 |
58% |
41 |
1 |
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
59% |
41 |
-- |
B. For target shooting
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
2005 Oct 13-16 |
66% |
34 |
-- |
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
67% |
33 |
-- |
C. For protection against crime
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
2005 Oct 13-16 |
67% |
33 |
-- |
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
65% |
35 |
-- |
Do you think courtrooms would be safer places or more dangerous places if judges were armed with guns?
|
Safer |
More |
Depends |
No |
|
|
2005 Apr 4-7 |
43% |
50 |
2 |
5 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
Do you think schools would be safer places or more dangerous places if school officials were armed with guns?
|
Safer |
More |
Depends |
No |
|
|
2005 Apr 4-7 |
22% |
73 |
2 |
3 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
Do you think airplanes would be safer places or more dangerous places if pilots were armed with guns?
|
Safer |
More |
Depends |
No |
|
|
2005 Apr 4-7 |
62% |
33 |
2 |
3 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
What is your overall opinion of the National Rifle Association, also known as the NRA -- is it very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
|
Very |
Mostly |
Mostly |
Very |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2005 Apr 4-7 |
18 |
42 |
19 |
15 |
6 |
|
2000 May 23-24 |
19 |
33 |
21 |
18 |
9 |
|
2000 Apr 7-9 |
15 |
36 |
20 |
19 |
10 |
|
1999 Apr 26-27 |
14 |
37 |
22 |
18 |
9 |
|
1995 Jun 5-6 |
14 |
28 |
25 |
26 |
7 |
|
1993 Mar 12-14 |
22 |
33 |
18 |
14 |
13 |
Which of the following do you think should be allowed to carry a concealed firearm in a public place, such as a restaurant or movie theater -- only government safety officials, such as police officers, only government officials or private citizens who have a clear need for a weapon, such as those who transport large amounts of cash, or any private citizen, except those who would be a potential threat to public safety, such as convicted criminals?
|
Only |
Only |
Any |
Anyone |
No one |
No |
|
|
2004 Nov 19-21 |
44% |
26 |
27 |
* |
2 |
1 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
||||||
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||||
If you were in a public place such as a restaurant or movie theater, would you feel more safe -- or less safe -- if you knew concealed firearms were allowed?
|
More |
Less |
No |
No |
|
|
2004 Nov 19-21 |
25% |
65 |
8 |
2 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
Do you personally own a handgun, rifle, shotgun or any other kind of firearm?
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
2004 Nov 19-21 |
31 |
66 |
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 |
No opinion |
|
|
2004 Oct 11-14 |
50% |
46 |
4 |
|
2000 Oct 25-28 ^ |
59% |
39 |
2 |
|
1996 Apr 25-28 ^ |
57% |
42 |
1 |
|
^WORDING: Now, I am going to read several propositions that would prohibit and make illegal certain activities. First, would you vote -- for or against a law which would make it illegal to manufacture, sell, or possess semi-automatic guns known as assault rifles? |
|||
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