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![Please say whether you favor or oppose each of the following. [RANDOM ORDER]](http://content.gallup.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/962n4egcykkpn3_aegbljg.gif)
Next, 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 -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
Pass stronger gun control laws
|
|
Strongly |
Favor |
Oppose |
Strongly |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2011 Jan 14-16 |
26 |
23 |
23 |
27 |
2 |
Just your opinion, what do you think are the one or two most important things that could be done to prevent mass shootings from occurring in the United States? [OPEN-ENDED]
|
|
2011 Jan 14-16 |
|
% |
|
|
Stricter gun control laws |
24 |
|
Better mental health screening/Better mental health support |
15 |
|
More education/Teach children about violence/proper use of guns |
9 |
|
More extensive background checks for those buying guns |
8 |
|
Need stricter security measures for public gatherings |
6 |
|
Ban handguns/bullets |
5 |
|
Americans need to be aware/speak up about possible dangers |
4 |
|
Better parenting/Hold parents accountable |
4 |
|
Allow people to carry guns for their own protection |
4 |
|
Bring God/morality back into people's lives |
4 |
|
Tougher criminal justice/sentencing |
3 |
|
Better enforcement of existing gun laws |
3 |
|
Less media coverage of shootings/Don't sensationalize |
2 |
|
Restrict sale of automatic handguns |
2 |
|
Better cooperation/communication between political parties |
1 |
|
Improve the economy/More jobs |
1 |
|
Crack down on illegal immigration |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Other |
4 |
|
|
|
|
Nothing (vol.) |
11 |
|
|
|
|
No opinion |
12 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|
|
Percentages total more than 100% due to multiple responses |
|
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 |
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. |
|||
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 |
|||
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 |
||||
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 |
Any one |
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 |
||||
