• Posted on Thursday, February 7, 2013
  • Bookmark and Share
  • email
  • |
  • print
  • |
  • rss

tool name

close
tool goes here

Majority want stricter gun laws, strong support for background checks

email this story print this story jump to comments

Voters want stricter gun control laws--but not by an overwhelming majority.

A new Quinnipiac Polling Institute national survey shows that by a 52-43 percent margin, people want tougher laws.

Support for specifics varies:

--56–39 percent support for a ban on the sale of assault weapons, but voters in gun households are opposed, 52-44 percent.

--56–40 percent support for a ban on the sale of high capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds.

--46 percent say the National Rifle Association better reflects their view on guns, with 43 percent saying President Barack Obama is closer to their view.

--92-7 percent support for tough background checks.

"There is no significant voter opposition to requiring background checks for gun buyers,” said Quinnipiac assistant director Peter Brown, “and there is support for banning high volume ammunition clips and assault weapons, with the issue pretty much falling along party lines.

“The politics of gun policy are also unclear," he added. "Despite the huge news media coverage of the issue since the Newtown shooting, only 37 percent of voters are more likely to vote for a congressman who votes to ban sales of assault rifles, while 31 percent are less likely and 30 percent say it would not affect their vote. And it’s worth noting that voters narrowly believe that the NRA more represents their views on guns than does President Obama.”

The survey was conducted January 30 – February 4. Some 1,772 registered voters were polled. Margin of error is +/- 2.3 percentage points.

  • Bookmark and Share
  • email
  • |
  • print
  • |
  • rss

tool name

close
tool goes here
JOIN THE DISCUSSION

We welcome comments. To post one, you must sign in using either your McClatchyDC login or your login for Facebook, Twitter or Disqus. Just click the appropriate box below.

Please keep your comment civil, short and to the point. Obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. If you find a comment abusive or inappropriate, please flag it for the moderator by placing your cursor on the comment, then clicking the "flag" link that appears. Thanks for your participation.

Stay Connected

Sign up for email newsletters RSS
Follow us on your iPhone Follow us on your Android device
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us using Google Currents

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT BLOG

Planet Washington

"Planet Washington" is a group blog by journalists in McClatchy's Washington Bureau. Send a story suggestion.