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Details of the AP-Ipsos poll on public attitudes about guns, gun violence, and the Virginia Tech shootings. The poll was conducted by Ipsos, an international polling firm, following Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech.
ATTITUDES TOWARD GUNS: Nearly half, 47 percent, of Americans say gun laws should be made more strict, according to the poll. 87 percent see gun violence as a serious problem today, but few worry about personally becoming a victim of gun violence. 65 percent rarely or never worry about becoming a victim and 22 percent know someone who has been a victim of a crime involving a gun in the past three years. A third, 32 percent, of Americans say they are gun owners.
FEELINGS ABOUT THE SHOOTINGS: 90 percent say they have deep feelings of sorrow for the victims and their families. 55 percent felt the deaths could have been prevented and about as many, 52 percent, said they felt ashamed this could happen in this country. 48 percent felt there may be too many guns in this country and about the same number, 45 percent, said they wondered if people could really be safe anywhere these days.
IMPACT ON THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN: A majority, 55 percent, say they are more likely to support a presidential candidate who favors stricter gun control laws. 32 percent are less likely to support such a candidate and 11 percent said it wouldn't make a difference. More than two-thirds of Democrats, 69 percent, said they are more likely to support a candidate who favors tougher gun laws, compared with 34 percent of Republicans and half of independents.
DIFFERENCES BY GENDER, RACE: More women, 59 percent, than men, 34 percent, think gun laws should be made more strict. Minorities, 55 percent, are more likely than whites, 44 percent, to feel this way. Women and minorities were also more likely than men and whites to say gun violence is a concern and to worry about becoming a victim of gun violence. They are also more likely to support a presidential candidate who favors stricter gun control laws. The gender divide extends into the political parties, with women in both parties more likely to favor stricter gun laws than men.
The AP-Ipsos poll of 996 adults was conducted April 17-19 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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Analysis by AP Manager of News Surveys Trevor Tompson and AP News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius.
© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
Purchase this AP story for reprint.
ATTITUDES TOWARD GUNS: Nearly half, 47 percent, of Americans say gun laws should be made more strict, according to the poll. 87 percent see gun violence as a serious problem today, but few worry about personally becoming a victim of gun violence. 65 percent rarely or never worry about becoming a victim and 22 percent know someone who has been a victim of a crime involving a gun in the past three years. A third, 32 percent, of Americans say they are gun owners.
FEELINGS ABOUT THE SHOOTINGS: 90 percent say they have deep feelings of sorrow for the victims and their families. 55 percent felt the deaths could have been prevented and about as many, 52 percent, said they felt ashamed this could happen in this country. 48 percent felt there may be too many guns in this country and about the same number, 45 percent, said they wondered if people could really be safe anywhere these days.
IMPACT ON THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN: A majority, 55 percent, say they are more likely to support a presidential candidate who favors stricter gun control laws. 32 percent are less likely to support such a candidate and 11 percent said it wouldn't make a difference. More than two-thirds of Democrats, 69 percent, said they are more likely to support a candidate who favors tougher gun laws, compared with 34 percent of Republicans and half of independents.
DIFFERENCES BY GENDER, RACE: More women, 59 percent, than men, 34 percent, think gun laws should be made more strict. Minorities, 55 percent, are more likely than whites, 44 percent, to feel this way. Women and minorities were also more likely than men and whites to say gun violence is a concern and to worry about becoming a victim of gun violence. They are also more likely to support a presidential candidate who favors stricter gun control laws. The gender divide extends into the political parties, with women in both parties more likely to favor stricter gun laws than men.
The AP-Ipsos poll of 996 adults was conducted April 17-19 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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Analysis by AP Manager of News Surveys Trevor Tompson and AP News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius.
© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
Purchase this AP story for reprint.
