In Gun Control Debate, Several Options Draw Majority Support

Gun Rights Proponents More Politically Active

Overview

While the issue of gun control remains divisive, there are clear areas of agreement when it comes to a number of gun policy proposals. Fully 85% of Americans favor making private gun sales and sales at gun shows subject to background checks, with comparable support from Republicans, Democrats and independents. Similarly, 80% support laws to prevent mentally ill people from purchasing guns, with broad support across party lines.

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But this bipartisan consensus breaks down when it comes to other proposals. Two-thirds of Americans (67%) favor creating a federal database to track gun sales, but there is a wide partisan divide between Democrats (84%) and Republicans (49%). A smaller majority of the public (55%) favors a ban on assault-style weapons; Democrats (69%) also are far more likely than Republicans (44%) to support this. Similar partisan divides exist when it comes to banning high-capacity ammunition clips or the sale of ammunition online.

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Jan. 9-13 among 1,502 adults also tested two specific school-safety proposals, with widely different results. By a two-to-one margin (64%-32%), most favor putting armed security guards and police in more schools. But when it comes to more teachers and school officials having guns, most are opposed (40% favor vs. 57% oppose). The latter option is particularly divisive across party lines: 56% of Republicans would like to see more teachers and school officials armed, compared with just 23% of Democrats.

The Activism Gap

The survey finds that 51% of Americans say it is more important to control gun ownership, while 45% say it is more important to protect gun rights. This balance of opinion is virtually unchanged from mid-December when, in the immediate wake of the Newtown, CT shooting, public opinion shifted modestly in the direction of gun control. These are the only surveys since Obama became president in which significantly more have prioritized gun control than gun rights.

There is a wide gap between those who prioritize gun rights and gun control when it comes to political involvement. Nearly a quarter (23%) of those who say gun rights should be the priority have contributed money to an organization that takes a position on gun policy, compared with just 5% of those who prioritize gun control. People who favor gun rights are also about twice as likely as gun control supporters to have contacted a public official about gun policy (15% vs. 8%).

By contrast, comparable percentages of gun rights supporters (19%) and those who prioritize gun control (15%) say they have expressed their opinion about gun policy on social networks. And about one-in-ten in each group says they have signed a petition on gun policy (12% of gun rights supporters, 10% of gun control supporters).

Partisan Differences over Gun Policy

Among nine policy options included in the survey, the largest partisan gap is over creating a federal database to track gun sales. Fully 84% of Democrats favor the creation of a federal gun sale database, compared with 68% of independents and 49% of Republicans.

The differences are nearly as great over more teachers and school officials having guns in schools: 56% of Republicans, 42% of independents and just 23% of Democrats favor arming more teachers and school officials.

There also are substantial partisan gaps over banning assault-style and semi-automatic weapons (25 points and 19 points respectively), and banning the online sale of ammunition and high capacity ammunition clips (20 points, 18 points).

However, two proposals draw overwhelming support from Republicans, Democrats and independents making private gun sales and sales at gun shows subject to background checks, and laws to prevent people with mental illness from purchasing guns.

Majorities in each political group also favor putting armed security guards or police in more schools, though this proposal garners more support from Republicans (73% favor) than from Democrats (62%) or independents (59%).

There are intra-party differences, as well as differences between parties, over several of these proposals. This is reflected in opinions about proposals to ban semi-automatic or assault-style weapons.

Opinions about both proposals are similar across party lines: 49% of Republicans favor a ban on semi-automatic weapons, while 44% favor banning assault-style. Among Democrats, 68% favor banning semi-automatic weapons and 69% support banning assault-style weapons.

Combining results from the two questions, 62% of moderate and liberal Republicans favor banning semi-automatic or assault-style weapons compared with 40% of conservative Republicans. While 78% of liberal Democrats (78%) favor banning semi-automatic or assault weapons, a smaller majority of conservative and moderate Democrats (65%) do so.

Gender, Education Differences over Gun Proposals

Men are divided over whether it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns or to control gun ownership (51% vs. 44%). Women, by contrast, prioritize controlling gun ownership: 57% view this as more important compared with 38% who prioritize gun rights.

There also are sizable gender differences over some specific gun policy proposals: Fully two-thirds of women (67%) favor a ban on semi-automatic weapons, while men are divided 48% favor such a ban while 50% are opposed.

Majorities of women and men favor creating a federal database to track gun sales, but this proposal draws more support from women (73%) than men (61%). By contrast, men are more likely than women to favor more teachers and school officials having guns at school (47% vs. 32%).

Large majorities of men and women favor background checks for private gun sales and gun shows and laws to prevent mentally ill people from buying guns. There also is broad, though less overwhelming, support among both men and women for putting armed security guards or police in schools.

There also are educational differences over gun policy proposals. A proposal to put armed security guards or police in more schools attracts widespread support among those with no more than a high school education (75% favor) and those with only some college experience (68% favor). Fewer than half of college graduates (44%) support this proposal.

College graduates are much more supportive than those with less education of banning high-capacity ammunition clips and assault-style weapons.

Gun Owners and Gun Policy

A third (33%) of Americans say there are guns, rifles or pistols in their home, which is little changed from recent surveys. More than twice as many gun owners (65%) as those who do not own guns (30%) say it is more important to protect gun rights than to control gun ownership.

However, majorities of gun owners favor a number of the gun policy proposals tested in this survey: Fully 90% favor laws to prevent mentally ill people from buying guns and 85% favor making private gun sales and sales at gun shows subject to background checks. By 60% to 37%, gun owners also favor the creation of a federal government database to track all gun sales.

The Political Landscape

As has been the case over the past decade, neither party has a clear political advantage when it comes to the gun control issue: 38% feel the Republican Party does a better job of reflecting their views, while 40% say the Democratic Party. Not surprisingly, gun owners and those who prioritize gun rights see the GOP as more in line with their thinking, while non-gun owners and those who favor gun control say the Democratic Party shares their views.

Vice President Joe Biden, who is leading the White House effort to formulate new proposals to reduce gun violence, gets mixed ratings from the public: 42% have a favorable impression of him, 42% unfavorable. This is virtually unchanged since late October on the eve of the election (44% favorable, 42% unfavorable).

Views of Biden are deeply divided along partisan lines 77% of Republicans have an unfavorable opinion of him, while 75% of Democrats have a favorable opinion. Biden is viewed unfavorably by 63% of people who say the priority should be protecting the rights of gun owners, and favorably by 60% of those who prioritize controlling gun ownership.

Please take a look at Pew Research Center on this research piece. If we were to use their data for research, this would be secondary data. To be able to understand secondary data, one must look at the research method, sample, and survey questionnaire.

On the right hand panel, you will find the following links.

Report Materials

• Complete Report
• Topline Questionnaire
• Detailed Tables

Table of Contents

• Overview

• About the Survey

Look at the "Overview", "About the Survey" and "Topline Questionnaire". Can you identify some mistakes the researchers have made in collecting the data? Based on the sample, the method, or the types of questions asked in the questionnaire?

Broad Public Support for Many Gun Policy Proposals Oppose Favor Background checks for 12% 85% private and gun show sales Preventing people with mental illness from purchasing guns 16 80 Federal database to track gun sales 30 67 Armed security guards/ police in more schools 32 64 Ban on semi-automatic weapons 39 58 Ban on assault style weapons 40 55 Ban on high-capacity ammunition clips - 42 54 Ban on online sale of ammunition - 44 53 More teachers and school officials with guns in schools 57 40 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 51 No Change in Gun Control Views Since Shortly After Newtown Protect the Control right of gun Americans ownership to own guns DK Recent trend Jan 9-13, 2013 5=100 Dec 17-19, 2012 9=100 July 2012 6=100 Apr 2012 6=100 Previous years Mar 2011 6=100 Mar 2010 7=100 Apr 2009 6=100 Apr 2008 5=100 Apr 2007 8=100 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 040. Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding. Gun Rights Proponents more Politically Active Among those who prioritize... Gun rights Gun control 23 Contributed money to an organization that takes a position on gun policy Contacted a public official to express opinion on gun policy Expressed opinion on gun policy on a social network like Facebook or Twitter Signed a petition on gun policy NET: One or more activity 25 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 043. Bipartisan Support for Regulations on Gun Shows and Mentally Ill, More School Guards D-R Rep Ind Dem gap % who favor... Creating a federal database to track gun sales 49 68 84 D+35 Ban on assault-style weapons 44 50 69 D+25 Ban on online sale of ammunition 41 54 61 D+20 Ban on semi-automatic weapons 49 56 68 D+19 Ban on high-capacity ammunition clips 46 53 64 D+18 Background checks for private & gun show sales 85 85 87 D+2 Laws to prevent mentally ill people from purchasing guns 86 82 78 R+8 Putting armed security guards or police in more schools 73 59 62 R+11 More teachers and officials with guns in schools 564223 R+33 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 042. Views of Banning Semi-Automatic, Assault-Style Weapons Favor Oppose DK 40 Total 4=100 Republican 5=100 Conservative Rep 7=100 Mod/Lib Rep 0=100 Independent 4=100 Democrat 2=100 Cons/Mod Dem 2=100 Liberal Dem 1=100 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. Results based on combination of Q42 a (ban on semi-automatic weapons and Q42f(ban on assault-style weapons). Figures may not add to 100% because ofrounding. Wide Educational Differences over Putting Armed Security Guards in More Schools Coll SomeHS or Hi-Lo grad+ coll less gap % who favor... Ban on high-capacity ammunition clips 70 52 45 +25 Ban on assault-style weapons 68 5347 +21 Background checks for private & gun show sales 90 88 80 +10 Laws to prevent mentally ill people from purchasing guns 84 83 75 +9 Creating a federal database to track gun sales 7366 Ban on online sale of ammunition 56 54 49 +7 Ban on semi-automatic weapons 62 53 58 +4 More teachers and officials with guns in schools 30 46 41 -11 Armed security guards or police in more schools 44 68 75 -31 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 042. Neither Party Has Advantage on Gun Control Both/ Which party could Rep Dem Neither do a better job of (vol) DK reflecting your views Party Party about gun control? % % January 2013 40 1111=100 December 2012* 28 27 18=100 July 2004 34 36 9 21-100 April 2000 11 23-100 June 1999 12 12=100 December 1993 32 42 8 18=100 Jan 2013 among... Gun owner Yes No 51 29 299 48 12=100 10=100 12 Policy priority Gun rights 17 11 10=100 Gun control 21 60 10 10=100 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 0341. *Asked as a stand-alone item in Dec. 12. Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding. Broad Public Support for Many Gun Policy Proposals Oppose Favor Background checks for 12% 85% private and gun show sales Preventing people with mental illness from purchasing guns 16 80 Federal database to track gun sales 30 67 Armed security guards/ police in more schools 32 64 Ban on semi-automatic weapons 39 58 Ban on assault style weapons 40 55 Ban on high-capacity ammunition clips - 42 54 Ban on online sale of ammunition - 44 53 More teachers and school officials with guns in schools 57 40 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 51 No Change in Gun Control Views Since Shortly After Newtown Protect the Control right of gun Americans ownership to own guns DK Recent trend Jan 9-13, 2013 5=100 Dec 17-19, 2012 9=100 July 2012 6=100 Apr 2012 6=100 Previous years Mar 2011 6=100 Mar 2010 7=100 Apr 2009 6=100 Apr 2008 5=100 Apr 2007 8=100 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 040. Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding. Gun Rights Proponents more Politically Active Among those who prioritize... Gun rights Gun control 23 Contributed money to an organization that takes a position on gun policy Contacted a public official to express opinion on gun policy Expressed opinion on gun policy on a social network like Facebook or Twitter Signed a petition on gun policy NET: One or more activity 25 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 043. Bipartisan Support for Regulations on Gun Shows and Mentally Ill, More School Guards D-R Rep Ind Dem gap % who favor... Creating a federal database to track gun sales 49 68 84 D+35 Ban on assault-style weapons 44 50 69 D+25 Ban on online sale of ammunition 41 54 61 D+20 Ban on semi-automatic weapons 49 56 68 D+19 Ban on high-capacity ammunition clips 46 53 64 D+18 Background checks for private & gun show sales 85 85 87 D+2 Laws to prevent mentally ill people from purchasing guns 86 82 78 R+8 Putting armed security guards or police in more schools 73 59 62 R+11 More teachers and officials with guns in schools 564223 R+33 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 042. Views of Banning Semi-Automatic, Assault-Style Weapons Favor Oppose DK 40 Total 4=100 Republican 5=100 Conservative Rep 7=100 Mod/Lib Rep 0=100 Independent 4=100 Democrat 2=100 Cons/Mod Dem 2=100 Liberal Dem 1=100 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. Results based on combination of Q42 a (ban on semi-automatic weapons and Q42f(ban on assault-style weapons). Figures may not add to 100% because ofrounding. Wide Educational Differences over Putting Armed Security Guards in More Schools Coll SomeHS or Hi-Lo grad+ coll less gap % who favor... Ban on high-capacity ammunition clips 70 52 45 +25 Ban on assault-style weapons 68 5347 +21 Background checks for private & gun show sales 90 88 80 +10 Laws to prevent mentally ill people from purchasing guns 84 83 75 +9 Creating a federal database to track gun sales 7366 Ban on online sale of ammunition 56 54 49 +7 Ban on semi-automatic weapons 62 53 58 +4 More teachers and officials with guns in schools 30 46 41 -11 Armed security guards or police in more schools 44 68 75 -31 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 042. Neither Party Has Advantage on Gun Control Both/ Which party could Rep Dem Neither do a better job of (vol) DK reflecting your views Party Party about gun control? % % January 2013 40 1111=100 December 2012* 28 27 18=100 July 2004 34 36 9 21-100 April 2000 11 23-100 June 1999 12 12=100 December 1993 32 42 8 18=100 Jan 2013 among... Gun owner Yes No 51 29 299 48 12=100 10=100 12 Policy priority Gun rights 17 11 10=100 Gun control 21 60 10 10=100 PEW RESEARCH CENTER Jan. 9-13, 2013. 0341. *Asked as a stand-alone item in Dec. 12. Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding