Q Poll: Strong Support For Gun Control

From the Q Poll:

By margins of 2-1 or more, Connecticut voters support most gun-control measures, with support for universal background checks at 93 – 6 percent, including 89 – 9 percent among voters in households where there are guns, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Voters support stricter statewide gun-control laws 66 – 30 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Support for specific measures includes:

68 – 28 percent back an expansion of the statewide ban on the sale of assault weapons. Gun owners are opposed 49 – 44 percent;

68 – 28 percent back a ban on the sale of ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds. Gun owners are divided 49 – 48 percent;

72 – 27 percent back registration of all handguns, with annual renewal. Gun owners are divided with 48 percent in favor and 50 percent opposed;

63 – 31 percent, including 50 – 46 percent among gun owners, favor limiting handgun purchases to one per month;

85 – 14 percent, including 71 – 28 percent among gun owners, back a permit requirement to purchase and carry all guns;

86 – 11 percent, including 85 – 12 percent among gun owners, favor a gun offender registry for those convicted of gun crimes;

76 – 19 percent, including 65 – 32 percent among gun owners, back stricter gun storage requirements;

50 – 43 percent back mandatory liability insurance for gun owners, who oppose this measure 71 – 26 percent.

“In the wake of the Newtown tragedy, there is overwhelming support among Connecticut voters for strengthening the state’s gun laws. It is remarkable how bipartisan the support is for some of the most talked-about gun-control measures. Universal background checks tops the list with 93 percent support, higher than we’ve ever seen for any issue in 20 years of Connecticut surveys,” said Douglas Schwartz, PhD, director of the Quinnipiac University poll.

“Interestingly, Republican voters are divided 45 – 48 percent on the general question, ‘Do you support or oppose stricter gun-control laws in Connecticut.’ They support, however, most of the specific measures,” Dr. Schwartz added.

The Newtown tragedy makes them more likely to support gun-control, 54 percent of Connecticut voters say, while 43 percent say it makes no difference.

Voters are divided on a proposal to prohibit people convicted of drunk driving from owning guns, with 45 percent in favor and 48 percent opposed.

Voters also are divided on a proposed ban on children under 18 playing violent point-and-shoot video games in public arcades, with 46 percent in favor and 48 percent opposed.

Voters do support 54 – 41 percent placing armed police officers in public schools in the state.

Connecticut voters are divided on the way Gov. Dannel Malloy is handling gun policy, with 41 percent approving and 38 percent disapproving. Approval is 58 – 19 percent among Democrats, while disapproval is 55 – 30 percent among Republicans and 43 – 35 percent among independent voters.

Gov. Malloy is moving too quickly on gun-control, 33 percent of voters say, while 17 percent say he is not moving quickly enough and 42 percent say his pace is about right.

Voters also say 54 – 39 percent that Democrats and Republicans in the State Legislature will not be able to work together to reduce gun violence in Connecticut.

By a 42 – 20 percent margin, voters are more likely rather than less likely to back a state legislator who votes for stricter gun control. Another 35 percent say this won’t affect their vote.

“Connecticut voters are not optimistic that Democratic and Republican elected officials can or will act together to reduce gun violence,” Schwartz said. “Democrats are optimistic 50 – 43 percent, but Republicans are not, 64 – 32 percent, and independent voters are pessimistic, 58 – 35 percent.”

From March 4 – 5, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,009 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.