Research archive

Should there be a law to ban possession of handguns except by police in the US?

Gallup Poll
4-7 October 2007

N=1,010 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

“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
	%	%	%	%
4-7 Oct 2007	51	8	39	2
9-12 Oct 2006	56	9	33	2
13-16 Oct 2005	57	7	35	1
11-14 Oct 2004	54	11	34	1
9-11 Oct 2004	60	6	34	-
6-8 Oct 2003	55	9	36	-
14-17 Oct 2002	51	11	36	2
11-14 Oct 2001	53	8	38	1
5-7 Oct 2000	62	5	31	2
April 2000	61	7	30	2
Dec 1999	60	10	29	1
Aug 1999	66	6	27	1
June 1999	62	6	31	1
May 1999	65	5	28	2
April 1999	66	7	25	2
Feb 1999	60	9	29	2
April 1995	62	12	24	2
Dec 1993	67	7	25	1
March 1993	70	4	24	2
1991	68	5	25	2
1990	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
	%	%	%
4-7 Oct 2007	30	68	2
9-12 Oct 2006	32	66	2
13-16 Oct 2005	35	64	1
11-14 Oct 2004	36	63	1
6-8 Oct 2003	32	67	1
14-17 Oct 2002	32	65	3
29 Aug – 5 Sept 2000	36	62	2
April 1999	38	59	3
Feb 1999	34	64	2
Dec 1993	39	60	1
March 1993	42	54	4
March 1991	43	53	4
Sept 1990	41	55	4
1988	37	59	4
Oct 1987	42	50	8
June 1981	41	54	5

“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
	%	%	%
4-7 Oct 2007	58	38	4
9-12 Oct 2006	53	43	4
8-10 Oct 2002	60	38	2
29 Aug – 5 Sept 2000	53	45	2
28-30 April 2000	51	44	5

“Now, thinking about your own situation: Do you have a gun in your home?”

	Yes	No	Unsure
	%	%	%
4-7 Oct 2007	42	57	1
9-12 Oct 2006	43	54	3
13-16 Oct 2005	40	59	1
11-14 Oct 2004	38	61	1

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