Research archive

Would stricter gun control laws reduce the amount of violent crime in the US?

ABC News Poll
22 April 2007

N=788 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.5. Fieldwork by TNS.

“Do you favor or oppose stricter gun control laws in this country?”

	Favor	Oppose	Unsure
	%	%	%
22 April 2007	61	36	3
Oct 2006	61	37	2
May 2002	57	37	6
Jan 2001	59	39	2
May 2000	67	30	3
April 2000	64	34	2
Sept 1999	63	35	2
Aug 1999	63	34	3
May 1999	67	31	1

“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”
22 April 2007	55	41	3
“The sale of assault weapons”
22 April 2007	67	30	3
May 2000	71	27	2
Sept 1999	77	22	1
May 1999	79	19	2
June 1994	80	18	2
“People carrying a concealed weapon”
22 April 2007	42	55	3
Sept 1999	49	48	2
“The sale of handguns, except to law enforcement officers”
22 April 2007	38	60	3
May 2000	38	59	3
Sept 1999	32	65	3

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

	Would	Would Not	Unsure
	%	%	%
22 April 2007	49	50	2
April 2000	51	48	2
Sept 1999	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

	Stricter Laws	Stricter Enforcement	Both (vol.)	Neither (vol.)	Unsure
	%	%	%	%	%
22 April 2007	29	52	9	8	1
April 2000	33	53	7	5	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
	%	%	%
22 April 2007	60	31	9

“Do you or does anyone in your house own a gun, or not?”

	Yes	No
	%	%
22 April 2007	45	55
Oct 2006	42	58
Oct 2002	41	59
May 2000	45	55
April 2000	43	56
Sept 1999	44	56
May 1999	46	53

“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
	%	%	%	%	%
22 April 2007	18	35	40	5	2

“Do you think state 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
	%	%	%
22 April 2007	83	13	4

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