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Nearly 3 Out Of 4 Support Raising Legal Age To Buy Any Gun, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Support For Assault Weapons Ban Hits A Low

Americans support 74 - 24 percent raising the minimum legal age to buy any gun to 21 years old nationwide, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of adults released today. Democrats (91 - 7 percent), independents (76 - 22 percent), and Republicans (59 - 39 percent) all support raising the minimum legal age to buy any gun to 21 years old nationwide.

"As mass murders by teenage killers tear at the heart of the country, Americans say by a three to one margin, you should be 21 to buy a gun," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

GUN LAWS

Americans support 57 - 38 percent stricter gun laws in the United States. That is an increase in support for stricter gun laws from a Quinnipiac University poll in November 2021 when 45 percent supported stricter gun laws in the United States and 49 percent opposed.

Democrats (91 - 8 percent) and independents (56 - 38 percent) support stricter gun laws in the United States, while Republicans (64 - 32 percent) oppose them.

Fifty-two percent of Americans think the United States would be less safe if more people carried guns, while 37 percent think the United States would be safer if more people carried guns.

There is near unanimous support (92 percent) for requiring background checks for all gun buyers, while 7 percent oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers.

Americans support 83 - 12 percent a so called "red flag" law allowing police or family members to petition a judge to remove guns from a person that may be at risk for violent behavior.

Half of Americans (50 percent) support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons, while 45 percent oppose it.

In today's poll, 50 percent of registered voters support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons, while 45 percent oppose it. This is the lowest level of support among registered voters for a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons since February 2013 when the question was first asked by the Quinnipiac University Poll. The highest level of support among registered voters for a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons was in a Quinnipiac poll on February 20, 2018 when 67 percent supported a ban and 29 percent opposed.

"Nearly a decade after the school shooting at Sandy Hook and in the midst of a raging partisan and emotional debate, the assault weapon maintains a foothold, as calls for outlawing ownership hit their lowest level," added Malloy.

While 41 percent of Americans think the United States should pursue limiting the number of guns in the country, 55 percent do not think so.

Forty-two percent of Americans expect lawmakers in Washington D.C. to take action on reducing gun violence this year, while 54 percent do not.

GUN VIOLENCE

Americans were asked what they think is the main cause of mass shootings by young people in the United States. They say:

  • mental health issues: 40 percent;
  • availability of guns: 19 percent;
  • family instability: 17 percent;
  • social media: 10 percent;
  • entertainment such as movies, music, and video games: 7 percent.

There are big differences by party identification. Republicans think the main cause of mass shootings by young people is mental health issues (45 percent) followed by family instability (23 percent) and social media (10 percent). Democrats think the main cause of mass shootings by young people is the availability of guns (46 percent) followed by mental health issues (31 percent) and social media (9 percent). Independents think the main cause of mass shootings by young people is mental health issues (41 percent), family instability (19 percent), and the availability of guns (15 percent).

More than 4 out of 10 Americans (43 percent) personally worry about being the victim of a mass shooting, while 56 percent do not.

Fifty-seven percent of parents say they are either very concerned (26 percent) or somewhat concerned (31 percent) that there will be a shooting at their child's school, while 43 percent say they are either not so concerned (27 percent) or not concerned at all (16 percent).

PRESIDENT BIDEN

Americans give President Joe Biden a negative 33 - 55 percent job approval rating with 12 percent not offering an opinion. Biden's 33 percent job approval among Americans ties the low that he received in Quinnipiac University national polls on April 13, 2022 and January 12, 2022.

In today's poll, Democrats approve (79 - 11 percent) of the way Biden is handling his job, while Republicans (88 - 6 percent) and independents (61 - 25 percent) disapprove.

In today's poll, registered voters give President Biden a negative 35 - 56 percent approval rating with 9 percent not offering an opinion. Biden's 35 percent job approval among registered voters ties the low that he received in Quinnipiac University national polls on April 13, 2022 and January 12, 2022.

Americans were asked about President Biden's handling of...

  • the response to the coronavirus: 47 percent approve, while 46 percent disapprove;
  • the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine: 42 percent approve, while 50 percent disapprove;
  • gun violence: 32 percent approve, while 59 percent disapprove;
  • the economy: 28 percent approve, while 64 percent disapprove.
"Economic concerns driven by inflation take President Biden back to his lowest job approval number and give him the worst assessment of how he is handling the economy ever," added Malloy.

MOST URGENT ISSUE

Americans say inflation (34 percent) is the most urgent issue facing the country today followed by gun violence (17 percent).

Among Republicans, the top issues are inflation (46 percent) followed by immigration (14 percent). No other issue reached double digits.

Among Democrats, the top issues are gun violence (31 percent) followed by inflation (15 percent) and election laws (11 percent).

Among independents, the top issues are inflation (37 percent) followed by gun violence (16 percent). No other issue reached double digits.

CONGRESS & MIDTERMS

Americans give Republicans in Congress a negative 24 - 65 percent job approval rating.

Americans give Democrats in Congress a negative 27 - 63 percent job approval rating.

Among registered voters, if the election were held today, 46 percent say they would want to see the Republican Party win control of the United States House of Representatives, while 41 percent say the Democratic Party, and 13 percent did not offer an opinion.

In Quinnipiac's May 18, 2022 poll, 47 percent of registered voters said they would want to see the Republican Party win control of the United States House of Representatives, while 43 percent of registered voters said the Democratic Party, and 9 percent did not offer an opinion.

1,576 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from June 3rd - 6th with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points. The survey included 1,413 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 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