Majority Support Stricter Gun Laws, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Stark Divides On Views Of Police And Voting Issues
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In the wake of multiple mass shootings in the United States, a majority of Americans (54 - 42 percent) support stricter gun laws in a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University national poll of adults released today. Democrats support stricter gun laws 91 - 8 percent. Republicans oppose these laws 74 - 22 percent, and independents oppose them 51 - 44 percent.
Support for stricter gun laws varies widely depending on the measure. Americans:
- 89 - 8 percent support requiring background checks for all gun buyers;
- 74 - 21 percent support a so-called "red flag" law, which would allow the police or family members to petition a judge to remove guns from a person that may be at risk for violent behavior;
- 52 - 43 percent support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons;
- 51 - 44 percent support a nationwide ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets;
- 49 - 43 percent oppose repealing a law that gives gun manufacturers broad immunity from being sued by victims of gun violence and their relatives.
As to whether gun violence in the United States is a crisis, 45 percent think it is a crisis, 41 percent say it is a problem but not a crisis, and 12 percent say it's not a problem at all.
"There are mixed feelings on whether gun violence has reached a true crisis point, but a clear consensus on reporting 'the threat next door' before it is too late," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
POLICE & RACE
Half of Americans (50 percent) say police in the United States are tougher on Black people than on white people, while roughly 4 in 10 Americans (41 percent) say police generally treat Black and white people the same, and 1 percent say police are generally tougher on white people.
The findings are almost the same as an October 2016 poll of adults, in which 48 percent said the police in the U.S. are generally tougher on Black people, 40 percent said police treat Black people and white people the same, and 3 percent said the police are generally tougher on white people.
In today's survey, 79 percent of Black Americans say that police are generally tougher on Black people, while 10 percent say they treat Black and white people the same. White Americans are evenly split, as 46 percent say police are generally tougher on Black people, while 46 percent say police treat Black and white people the same.
POLICE JOB APPROVALS
More than half of Americans, 55 - 34 percent, say they approve of the way police in the United States are doing their job. That is down slightly from a 60 - 29 percent job approval rating in October of 2016.
There are sharp divides on views of the police, especially among partisan and racial groups. Republicans approve of the way police in the U.S. are doing their job 86 - 8 percent, independents approve 61 - 30 percent, and Democrats disapprove 56 - 31 percent. Black Americans disapprove 63 - 28 percent, while white Americans approve 65 - 27 percent and among Hispanic Americans 46 percent approve while 40 percent disapprove.
Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73 - 21 percent) approve of the way police in their community are doing their job. This is lower than a 2016 survey, when Americans approved 81 - 14 percent of the way police in their communities were doing their job.
"Overall, support for law enforcement takes a hit as police shootings, and the demonstrations they ignite, fill the airwaves and dominate the headlines. Even hometown police are losing ground in America, though they still have the approval of a large majority of Americans," added Malloy.
VOTING ISSUES
Americans were asked what they think is a bigger problem in U.S. elections: voter fraud or voter suppression. Nearly half (49 percent) say voter suppression, while just over 4 in 10 (43 percent) say voter fraud. Democrats say 84 - 13 percent that voter suppression is the bigger problem, independents are split with 47 percent saying voter suppression and 44 percent saying voter fraud, and Republicans say 82 - 11 percent that voter fraud is a bigger problem.
Asked whether expanded mail-in ballot access put in place during the 2020 elections because of the pandemic should become permanent, 54 percent of Americans say they support it while 42 percent oppose. Democrats support it 92 - 7 percent, Republicans oppose it 78 - 16 percent, and 52 percent of independents oppose it while 46 percent support it.
While Georgia's new voting law has received considerable attention, 44 percent say they haven't heard enough about it to offer an opinion, while 33 percent have an unfavorable view of it and 22 percent have a favorable view of it.
Americans are split on Major League Baseball's decision to move the 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta in response to the new voting law passed in Georgia, with 40 percent supporting MLB's decision, 40 percent opposing it, and 20 percent not offering an opinion.
"The national pastime is pulled into the political fray as Americans weigh in on moving the midseason classic out of Georgia," added Malloy.
MARIJUANA
Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69 - 25 percent) think the use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States. The numbers among registered voters are similar (70 - 24 percent), and they mark a record level of support for marijuana legalization since Quinnipiac University began polling on this issue in December of 2012. At that time, 51 percent of registered voters supported it and 44 percent opposed it.
1,237 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from April 8th - 12th with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
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Question 16. Which comes closer to your point of view: democracy in the United States is alive and well or democracy in the United States is under threat?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Alive and well 22% 10% 29% 24% 20% 24% 22% 17% Under threat 70 85 64 68 73 67 73 76 DK/NA 8 4 7 8 7 9 5 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Alive and well 30% 25% 19% 16% 17% 20% 19% 32% 28% Under threat 57 69 77 77 77 73 75 56 63 DK/NA 13 6 4 7 5 6 6 12 9 -
Question 23. Do you support or oppose stricter gun laws in the United States?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 54% 22% 91% 44% 41% 65% 67% 41% Oppose 42 74 8 51 56 30 30 55 DK/NA 4 5 1 5 3 5 2 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 54% 51% 54% 64% 35% 63% 50% 78% 58% Oppose 42 45 43 34 61 34 47 16 41 DK/NA 4 4 3 2 4 3 3 6 2 GUN......... DENSITY............ Hshld Owner City Suburb Rural Support 42% 36% 61% 59% 38% Oppose 55 61 34 38 61 DK/NA 3 3 5 3 1 -
Question 24. Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 89% 84% 98% 88% 82% 95% 91% 89% Oppose 8 11 2 10 14 3 7 9 DK/NA 3 4 - 2 3 2 2 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 91% 91% 89% 91% 84% 95% 90% 95% 89% Oppose 7 7 10 8 13 4 8 5 9 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 3 1 2 - 2 GUN......... DENSITY............ Hshld Owner City Suburb Rural Support 88% 85% 92% 92% 84% Oppose 10 13 7 5 14 DK/NA 2 2 1 3 2 -
Question 25. Do you support or oppose a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 52% 27% 88% 44% 39% 64% 63% 42% Oppose 43 70 11 50 56 31 33 55 DK/NA 5 3 1 6 5 4 3 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 44% 50% 56% 68% 34% 63% 49% 82% 47% Oppose 54 45 41 28 62 34 47 15 52 DK/NA 2 6 3 4 4 4 4 3 1 GUN......... DENSITY............ Hshld Owner City Suburb Rural Support 37% 31% 60% 56% 38% Oppose 59 66 36 39 58 DK/NA 4 3 4 5 4 -
Question 26. Do you support or oppose a nationwide ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 51% 27% 85% 43% 37% 65% 67% 44% Oppose 44 65 14 54 59 30 31 52 DK/NA 4 8 1 4 4 5 2 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 43% 47% 60% 65% 37% 65% 52% 74% 45% Oppose 52 49 38 32 60 32 45 26 48 DK/NA 5 4 2 3 3 4 4 1 8 GUN......... DENSITY............ Hshld Owner City Suburb Rural Support 39% 34% 57% 56% 42% Oppose 57 64 39 39 56 DK/NA 4 2 4 5 3 -
Question 27. Do you support or oppose allowing the police or family members to petition a judge to remove guns from a person that may be at risk for violent behavior?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 74% 65% 92% 67% 64% 83% 82% 72% Oppose 21 27 6 28 30 12 14 22 DK/NA 5 8 2 5 6 5 4 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 74% 71% 77% 84% 64% 85% 75% 87% 76% Oppose 22 24 19 10 28 11 19 11 22 DK/NA 4 4 5 5 7 4 5 3 2 GUN......... DENSITY............ Hshld Owner City Suburb Rural Support 71% 67% 80% 79% 63% Oppose 24 28 17 17 29 DK/NA 5 6 3 4 9 -
Question 28. As you may know, there is a law that gives gun manufacturers broad immunity from being sued by victims of gun violence and their relatives. Do you support or oppose repealing this law?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 43% 22% 70% 39% 36% 50% 48% 35% Oppose 49 68 21 55 61 38 45 56 DK/NA 8 9 8 6 4 12 7 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 39% 48% 45% 48% 34% 45% 40% 62% 45% Oppose 56 48 46 41 62 44 52 32 49 DK/NA 5 4 8 12 4 12 8 5 7 GUN......... DENSITY............ Hshld Owner City Suburb Rural Support 33% 31% 50% 42% 36% Oppose 61 64 43 51 56 DK/NA 7 5 7 7 8 -
Question 29. Do you think that gun violence in the United States is a crisis, a problem but not a crisis, or not a problem at all?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Crisis 45% 23% 76% 39% 33% 57% 55% 42% Problem/Not crisis 41 52 23 45 47 36 36 43 Not a problem at all 12 20 1 15 18 6 9 14 DK/NA 2 5 - 1 3 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Crisis 42% 41% 45% 62% 30% 60% 46% 77% 35% Problem/Not crisis 43 43 42 34 52 31 41 21 48 Not a problem at all 13 15 11 4 16 8 12 2 14 DK/NA 2 1 3 1 2 1 1 - 3 GUN......... DENSITY............ Hshld Owner City Suburb Rural Crisis 35% 31% 50% 53% 32% Problem/Not crisis 49 50 38 38 49 Not a problem at all 15 18 10 9 15 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 3 -
Question 30. Which do you think is a bigger problem in U.S. elections: voter fraud or voter suppression?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Fraud 43% 82% 13% 44% 50% 38% 34% 55% Suppression 49 11 84 47 41 56 61 38 DK/NA 8 6 3 9 9 7 4 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Fraud 34% 47% 46% 45% 54% 42% 48% 24% 39% Suppression 54 49 49 48 39 52 46 64 51 DK/NA 12 4 6 7 7 6 6 12 10 -
Question 31. As you may know, some states expanded mail-in voting during the 2020 elections because of the pandemic. Do you support or oppose keeping that expanded mail-in ballot access in place permanently?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 54% 16% 92% 46% 45% 61% 63% 43% Oppose 42 78 7 52 50 35 35 53 DK/NA 4 6 1 2 4 4 2 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 64% 49% 51% 52% 43% 56% 50% 78% 54% Oppose 33 47 45 43 54 40 47 20 38 DK/NA 3 4 4 4 2 5 4 2 7 -
Question 32. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of Georgia's new voting law, or haven't you heard enough about it?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 22% 45% 3% 25% 28% 16% 24% 29% Unfavorable 33 7 67 26 28 38 51 27 Hvn't hrd enough 44 47 30 49 43 45 23 44 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 - AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 13% 18% 29% 21% 36% 21% 28% 9% 10% Unfavorable 27 33 35 42 28 42 35 41 23 Hvn't hrd enough 61 48 35 36 35 37 36 49 66 REFUSED - 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 -
Question 33. As you may know, Major League Baseball decided to move the 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta in response to a new voting law passed in Georgia. Do you support or oppose Major League Baseball's decision?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 40% 17% 72% 33% 35% 45% 51% 34% Oppose 40 65 14 46 46 34 39 43 DK/NA 20 18 14 21 19 21 10 23 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 44% 40% 39% 46% 33% 46% 40% 59% 34% Oppose 32 35 45 41 51 34 42 26 40 DK/NA 25 25 16 13 16 20 18 14 26 -
Question 48. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the police in - the United States are doing their job?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 55% 86% 31% 61% 63% 47% 57% 69% Disapprove 34 8 56 30 27 41 33 24 DK/NA 11 6 14 9 9 12 10 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 41% 55% 60% 64% 72% 58% 65% 28% 46% Disapprove 50 38 26 25 22 32 27 63 40 DK/NA 9 7 14 11 7 10 8 9 14 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Approve 56% 53% 62% 45% 45% 58% 65% Disapprove 34 36 28 43 44 32 24 DK/NA 10 12 10 12 11 10 11 -
Question 49. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the police in - your community are doing their job?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 73% 94% 58% 80% 79% 68% 76% 83% Disapprove 21 5 33 17 16 25 20 13 DK/NA 6 1 9 3 5 7 4 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 63% 72% 78% 85% 85% 76% 81% 55% 66% Disapprove 34 25 14 11 12 19 16 32 28 DK/NA 3 4 8 5 2 5 4 13 6 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Approve 71% 74% 77% 69% 61% 81% 84% Disapprove 22 21 17 27 32 14 13 DK/NA 7 5 7 4 8 5 3 -
Question 50. Do you think the police in the United States are generally tougher on white people than on Black people, tougher on Black people than on white people, or do the police treat them both the same?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No White people 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% 2% Black people 50 19 86 43 40 60 59 39 Treat them the same 41 73 9 46 53 30 36 51 DK/NA 7 7 4 8 6 8 4 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp White people 1% 1% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% - - Black people 53 54 48 52 35 55 46 79 55 Treat them the same 41 38 43 38 56 37 46 10 42 DK/NA 5 7 6 8 7 6 6 11 3 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural White people 2% 1% 2% - 1% 2% 2% Black people 56 51 44 56 57 58 36 Treat them the same 33 39 47 39 35 37 53 DK/NA 9 9 7 4 8 4 9 -
Question 51. Do you think that climate change in the United States is a crisis, a problem but not a crisis, or not a problem at all?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Crisis 40% 10% 72% 32% 29% 50% 49% 35% Problem/Not crisis 34 43 22 39 38 30 30 31 Not a problem at all 23 45 3 26 31 16 21 31 DK/NA 4 3 3 2 3 4 1 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Crisis 47% 41% 36% 37% 27% 51% 40% 41% 41% Problem/Not crisis 39 32 33 35 34 28 31 43 41 Not a problem at all 11 26 28 24 36 20 27 10 14 DK/NA 2 1 3 4 2 2 2 6 4 -
Question 52. Do you think that the use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States, or not?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 69% 62% 78% 67% 68% 70% 71% 70% No 25 32 17 28 25 25 25 24 DK/NA 6 6 5 5 7 5 5 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 78% 78% 72% 51% 70% 71% 71% 69% 70% No 17 18 22 42 25 24 24 28 20 DK/NA 5 5 6 7 5 5 5 3 9