February 7, 2013 - Americans Back Women In Combat 3-1, But Less For Draft, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Support For Universal Gun Background Checks Is 92% Word format PDF format American voters support allowing women in combat by an overwhelming 75 - 22 percent, including 77 - 21 percent among women, but say by a smaller 52 - 42 percent, including a negative 45 - 48 percent among women, that women should be drafted if the draft is reinstated, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. On gun-control, there is overwhelming 92 - 7 percent support for background checks for all gun buyers, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Support for universal background checks is 91 - 8 percent among voters in a household with a gun. American voters oppose 65 - 28 percent reestablishing the military draft. If there is a draft, however, men say 59 - 36 percent that women should be drafted. Women are split on being drafted, 48 - 45 percent. "There is overwhelming support for allowing women in combat, with virtually no difference between men and women. But on whether such a move will increase military effectiveness, and especially on the question of whether in the case of a military draft women should be called, too, there is a sizeable difference in how men and women feel," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Men are divided as 36 percent say allowing women in combat enhances military effectiveness, while 34 percent say it compromises effectiveness. Women say 46 - 30 percent it enhances effectiveness." There is a partisan divide on whether to change the way states allocate Presidential Electoral College votes: 46 percent of voters want to keep the system used in most states where all of a state's Electoral College votes go to the candidate who wins the state; 41 percent want to allocate Electoral College votes based who wins in each congressional district. Democratic voters favor the current winner-take-all system 55 - 31 percent while Republicans want to allocate votes by congressional district 57 - 30 percent. Independent voters favor winner-take-all 47 - 41 percent. Gun Control Voters support 52 - 43 percent stricter nationwide gun-control laws. Attitudes on other gun-control issues are: 56 - 39 percent support for a ban on the sale of assault weapons, with voters in gun households opposing a ban 52 - 44 percent; 56 - 40 percent support for a ban on the sale of high capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds, with voters in gun households opposed 52 - 45 percent; 46 percent say the National Rifle Association better reflects their view on guns, with 43 percent who say President Barack Obama better reflects their views. "There is no significant voter opposition to requiring background checks for gun buyers," said 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. 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." Illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the U.S. and eventually apply for citizenship, 56 percent of American voters say, while 10 percent say they should be allowed to stay but not apply for citizenship. Another 30 percent say illegal immigrants should be required to leave. From January 30 - February 4, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,772 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information or RSS feed, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 21. Who do you trust to do a better job handling - gun policy, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Obama 45% 8% 82% 40% 38% 52% 38% 84% 54% Reps in Congress 43 84 10 44 51 36 50 6 33 DK/NA 12 8 9 16 12 12 12 10 13 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Mltry Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No HsHld Obama 50% 32% 32% 42% 33% 43% 20% 44% 35% Reps in Congress 38 56 56 46 55 45 67 43 53 DK/NA 12 12 12 13 12 12 13 12 12 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Obama 53% 42% 48% 43% 44% 40% 43% 47% 49% Reps in Congress 35 46 40 47 48 47 47 42 35 DK/NA 11 12 13 10 8 13 9 11 16 22. Who do you trust to do a better job handling - immigration, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Obama 46% 7% 83% 41% 41% 51% 38% 80% 65% Reps in Congress 41 79 10 42 45 37 49 9 21 DK/NA 13 14 7 18 14 13 14 11 14 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Mltry Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No HsHld Obama 50% 32% 30% 39% 34% 41% 18% 43% 35% Reps in Congress 41 53 55 49 52 46 66 44 49 DK/NA 10 16 15 11 14 13 16 12 16 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Obama 52% 43% 50% 43% 43% 43% 48% 48% 44% Reps in Congress 38 42 36 47 45 44 43 39 39 DK/NA 10 15 14 10 12 13 9 13 17 33. Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Legal all cases 24% 11% 38% 22% 22% 26% 22% 34% 23% Legal most cases 32 24 34 35 30 33 33 30 26 Illegal most cases 25 39 13 25 27 23 26 13 26 Illegal all cases 14 23 10 11 14 14 14 13 18 DK/NA 6 4 6 7 7 5 5 10 7 WHITE............................. COLLEGE DEG BrnAgn POL PHIL......... Yes No Prot Cath Evngl Lib Mod Con Legal all cases 31% 17% 15% 20% 10% 42% 29% 10% Legal most cases 35 32 32 31 20 38 36 22 Illegal most cases 23 28 30 28 37 11 19 39 Illegal all cases 7 18 19 15 30 6 10 24 DK/NA 4 5 4 6 4 3 6 6 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Legal all cases 31% 21% 22% 26% 28% 25% 23% 28% 17% Legal most cases 35 30 30 31 36 28 37 31 28 Illegal most cases 22 26 25 25 23 23 25 23 29 Illegal all cases 8 17 17 13 9 19 13 11 18 DK/NA 4 7 6 5 4 3 3 7 9 TREND: Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? (*Combined high also 57% Aug 2007, Dec 2005, Jul 2005, & Dec 2004) COMBINED LEGAL ALL & MOST CASES High Low Feb 07 Feb 23 Apr 21 Jan 14 May 14 Jul 17 Apr 21 2013 2012 2010 2010 2009 2008* 2010 Legal all cases 24 22 18 18 15 19 18 Legal most cases 32 33 33 34 37 38 33 Illegal most cases 25 25 27 24 27 24 27 Illegal all cases 14 14 16 18 14 14 16 DK/NA 6 6 6 5 7 5 6 34. In general, do you agree or disagree with the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to an abortion? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Agree 63% 42% 78% 66% 60% 67% 62% 69% 62% Disagree 30 52 14 28 33 27 32 19 27 DK/NA 7 6 8 5 7 7 6 11 10 WHITE............................. COLLEGE DEG BrnAgn POL PHIL......... Yes No Prot Cath Evngl Lib Mod Con Agree 72% 57% 53% 60% 33% 86% 75% 39% Disagree 25 36 41 35 61 10 19 56 DK/NA 3 7 6 5 6 4 7 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Agree 73% 59% 61% 64% 70% 67% 68% 62% 57% Disagree 24 33 29 33 27 27 26 31 34 DK/NA 4 8 10 3 3 7 6 6 9 TREND: In general, do you agree or disagree with the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to an abortion? AGREE......... High Low Feb 07 Feb 23 Apr 21 Jul 17 Aug 16 Jul 27 Apr 21 2013 2012 2010 2008 2007 2005 2010 Agree 63 64 60 63 62 65 60 Disagree 30 31 35 33 32 30 35 DK/NA 7 5 5 5 6 6 5 35. Do you support or oppose stricter gun control laws in the United States? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 52% 26% 78% 50% 40% 62% 47% 73% 62% Oppose 43 69 17 46 55 33 48 21 35 DK/NA 5 6 5 4 5 5 5 7 3 COLLEGE DEG Gun Mltry HvKids AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No HsHld HsHld PubSch 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Support 63% 47% 36% 40% 48% 41% 47% 56% 57% Oppose 33 48 59 55 50 53 49 40 35 DK/NA 4 5 5 4 3 6 4 4 8 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEst MWst Sth West Urban Suburb Rural Support 62% 49% 51% 45% 58% 56% 39% Oppose 33 44 43 53 36 41 55 DK/NA 5 7 5 2 5 4 6 TREND: Do you support or oppose stricter gun control laws in the United States? Feb 07 Jul 17 2013 2008 Support 52 54 Oppose 43 40 DK/NA 5 5 36. Do you support or oppose a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 56% 39% 81% 50% 44% 68% 55% 76% 47% Oppose 39 55 16 46 53 27 40 22 48 DK/NA 5 7 3 4 3 6 5 1 4 COLLEGE DEG Gun Mltry HvKids AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No HsHld HsHld PubSch 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Support 65% 53% 44% 48% 49% 41% 49% 62% 68% Oppose 30 43 52 50 49 52 48 36 25 DK/NA 5 4 4 2 2 8 2 3 7 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEst MWst Sth West Urban Suburb Rural Support 67% 58% 55% 47% 61% 59% 49% Oppose 26 38 40 52 36 36 47 DK/NA 7 4 5 1 3 5 5 37. Do you support or oppose a nationwide ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 56% 37% 77% 55% 46% 65% 54% 68% 53% Oppose 40 58 20 42 51 30 42 28 41 DK/NA 4 6 4 3 3 5 4 4 6 COLLEGE DEG Gun Mltry HvKids AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No HsHld HsHld PubSch 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Support 66% 51% 45% 51% 51% 44% 49% 59% 67% Oppose 31 44 52 45 48 50 48 38 26 DK/NA 3 5 3 4 2 6 3 3 7 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEst MWst Sth West Urban Suburb Rural Support 63% 62% 53% 48% 59% 62% 46% Oppose 32 34 43 48 37 35 50 DK/NA 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 38. Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 92% 89% 96% 92% 90% 94% 92% 95% 91% Oppose 7 9 3 7 9 5 7 5 8 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 COLLEGE DEG Gun Mltry HvKids AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No HsHld HsHld PubSch 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Support 95% 91% 91% 89% 93% 92% 95% 92% 90% Oppose 4 8 8 9 6 8 5 6 7 DK/NA 1 1 1 2 - 1 - 1 2 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEst MWst Sth West Urban Suburb Rural Support 94% 91% 93% 91% 93% 93% 91% Oppose 5 7 6 9 6 6 8 DK/NA 1 2 1 - 1 1 1 39. If a member of Congress who represents your district were to vote for a ban on the sale of assault weapons, would you be more likely to vote for that person, less likely to vote for that person, or wouldn't it make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp More likely 37% 19% 61% 30% 27% 45% 35% 51% 34% Less likely 31 48 11 33 41 22 34 15 28 No difference 30 29 26 34 30 30 29 32 38 DK/NA 3 4 2 2 2 3 3 3 - COLLEGE DEG Gun Mltry HvKids AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No HsHld HsHld PubSch 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ More likely 46% 33% 25% 30% 34% 22% 32% 41% 46% Less likely 24 34 45 41 36 42 35 28 24 No difference 28 30 27 27 28 33 31 30 25 DK/NA 2 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 5 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEst MWst Sth West Urban Suburb Rural More likely 45% 37% 36% 29% 41% 39% 30% Less likely 21 28 32 42 25 31 38 No difference 32 31 29 27 31 29 29 DK/NA 2 4 3 2 3 1 3 40. Who do you think better reflects your views on guns, President Obama or the National Rifle Association? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Obama 43% 8% 76% 38% 35% 50% 38% 70% 47% NRA 46 78 15 49 55 37 51 16 39 BOTH (VOL) 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 5 2 NEITHER (VOL) 5 4 2 8 6 4 5 2 4 DK/NA 5 9 5 4 3 7 5 8 8 COLLEGE DEG Gun Mltry HvKids AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No HsHld HsHld PubSch 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Obama 57% 36% 27% 33% 38% 31% 40% 45% 51% NRA 32 52 62 57 50 54 51 43 38 BOTH (VOL) 2 1 1 1 3 1 2 2 - NEITHER (VOL) 6 5 7 6 5 4 5 6 3 DK/NA 3 6 4 3 3 9 2 4 7 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEst MWst Sth West Urban Suburb Rural Obama 54% 44% 37% 39% 49% 48% 30% NRA 35 43 50 52 37 43 60 BOTH (VOL) 2 1 2 1 2 - 1 NEITHER (VOL) 4 6 5 5 4 7 4 DK/NA 5 7 6 3 8 2 5 41. In a presidential election, all of a state's electoral votes go to the statewide popular vote winner except in Maine and Nebraska. Some states are considering dividing their state's electoral votes between candidates based on the number of congressional districts they win. Which comes closer to your view: your state should award all of its electoral votes to the statewide popular vote winner, or your state should divide its electoral votes between candidates based on the congressional districts they win? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Winner-take-all 46% 30% 55% 47% 45% 47% 44% 58% 50% Divide by district 41 57 31 41 44 39 43 28 36 DK/NA 13 13 14 11 11 14 13 13 14 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Winner-take-all 48% 45% 46% 44% 47% 43% 42% 47% 51% Divide by district 43 40 38 48 43 45 49 40 30 DK/NA 8 15 16 8 10 12 9 13 19 42. Do you think that women who serve in the military and who want to serve in ground units that engage in close combat should be allowed to do that or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 75% 63% 86% 73% 73% 77% 73% 80% 83% No 22 34 12 25 24 21 24 17 14 DK/NA 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 Mltry COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS.............. HsHld Yes No 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Yes 69% 79% 73% 85% 79% 75% 62% No 29 17 25 13 18 22 35 DK/NA 2 3 2 1 3 2 3 TREND: Do you think that women who serve in the military and who want to serve in ground units that engage in close combat should be allowed to do that or not? Feb 07 Feb 23 2013 2012 Yes 75 75 No 22 22 DK/NA 3 3 43. Do you think women's presence in combat situations enhances military effectiveness or compromises it? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Enhances 41% 30% 55% 37% 36% 46% 38% 55% 48% Compromises 32 46 21 34 34 30 34 26 27 NEITHER (VOL) 12 10 12 14 15 10 12 10 15 DK/NA 14 14 12 15 15 14 15 9 10 Mltry COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS.............. HsHld Yes No 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Enhances 38% 45% 40% 43% 46% 42% 33% Compromises 40 27 35 30 28 32 39 NEITHER (VOL) 10 15 11 15 13 12 9 DK/NA 12 14 15 12 13 13 18 44. Do you favor or oppose reinstating the military draft? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favor 28% 29% 25% 30% 34% 22% 27% 31% 32% Oppose 65 62 69 63 59 70 65 62 61 DK/NA 8 9 6 6 7 8 8 7 6 Mltry COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS.............. HsHld Yes No 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favor 39% 25% 29% 24% 24% 26% 37% Oppose 54 68 64 71 70 65 55 DK/NA 7 7 8 5 7 8 8 TREND: Do you favor or oppose reinstating the military draft? Feb 07 May 05 2013 2004 Favor 28 26 Oppose 65 67 DK/NA 8 7 45. If the military draft were reinstated, would you favor or oppose drafting women as well as men? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favor 52% 46% 54% 55% 59% 45% 53% 39% 45% Oppose 42 48 39 40 36 48 41 53 49 DK/NA 6 6 7 5 5 7 5 7 6 Mltry COLLEGE DEG AGE IN YRS.............. HsHld Yes No 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favor 56% 60% 48% 46% 52% 55% 48% Oppose 38 35 46 47 44 40 43 DK/NA 6 6 6 7 4 5 9 46. Which comes closest to your view about illegal immigrants who are currently living in the United States? A) They should be allowed to stay in the United States and to eventually apply for US citizenship. B) They should be allowed to remain in the United States, but not be allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship. C) They should be required to leave the U.S. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp A)Stay/Citizenship 56% 40% 74% 53% 51% 59% 50% 77% 70% B)Stay/Not citizen 10 11 8 11 11 10 10 8 13 C)Not stay 30 46 16 30 34 27 35 13 13 DK/NA 4 3 3 6 4 5 4 3 4 WHITE.............................................. COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv Mltry Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No HsHld A)Stay/Citizenship 59% 46% 48% 54% 46% 54% 43% 53% 50% B)Stay/Not citizen 14 8 9 12 11 9 8 11 10 C)Not stay 23 41 37 32 38 32 43 33 35 DK/NA 4 5 6 2 4 5 6 4 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ A)Stay/Citizenship 60% 54% 57% 57% 55% 51% 56% 55% 60% B)Stay/Not citizen 14 8 10 10 12 10 10 9 11 C)Not stay 22 34 30 31 29 38 31 30 23 DK/NA 4 5 4 3 4 2 3 6 6 TREND: Which comes closest to your view about illegal immigrants who are currently living in the United States? A) They should be allowed to stay in the United States and to eventually apply for US citizenship. B) They should be allowed to remain in the United States, but not be allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship. C) They should be required to leave the U.S. Feb 07 Dec 05 2013 2012 A)Stay/Citizenship 56 57 B)Stay/Not citizen 10 11 C)Not stay 30 26 DK/NA 4 5 Demographic Summary
