Crime Control and Gun Control

Which of the following do you believe is the most important problem facing our country?

The proper government response to electronic fraud is...

Prohibit law-abiding citizens from buying computers

Limit law-abiding citizens to computers that have no more than two of the following features: 66MHz

Prosecute the perpetrator of the crime

The proper government response to arson is...

Prohibit law-abiding citizens from heating their homes with flammable materials such as natural gas,

Prohibit law-abiding citizens from buying any flammable fluids, matches and lighters

Prosecute the perpetrator of the crime

The proper government response to a drive-by shooting is...

Prohibit law-abiding citizens from buying the type of the car used by the perpetrator

Prohibit law-abiding citizens from buying the type of firearm used by the perpetrator

Prosecute the perpetrator of the crime

Someone planning a drive-by shooting would use...

Only legal 10-round magazines because they plan to get caught

Anything he wants because he doesn't plan to get caught

Is it morally correct for a police officer to shoot in order to save an innocent victim from an attack?

Yes

No

If no police officer is present, is it morally correct for an innocent victim to shoot to protect self or family members from an attack?

Yes

No

What do you believe are the chances of you or a family member becoming the victim of a violent crime at least once in your lifetime?

If you or a family member were confronted with a life-threatening situation, how likely do you believe police will be there in time to prevent any injury or loss of life?

If your child or spouse were assaulted, you would...

Run away and hope my family member can keep up with me

Be a good witness so you can later tell the police what happened

Try to convince the attacker to stop through verbal persuasion

Fight to stop the attack

If you choose to resist an attacker, your primary concern would be...

Health and safety of the attacker

Your own safety

Given a choice, you would prefer to defend yourself with...

Your bare hands

A relatively ineffective weapon, such as pepper spray

Whatever weapon is at hand, such as a stick or a rock

An effective weapon, such as a firearm

If you choose to defend yourself with a firearm, you would favor the...

Least effective type possible

Most effective type possible

Criminals often gang up on a single victim. Shooting accurately under stress is often difficult and more than one shot may be required to stop each attacker. If defending yourself with a firearm, you would want the magazine to hold...

One round

Six rounds

Ten rounds

30 rounds

Police officers carry high-capacity handguns and keep shotguns or submachine guns in patrol cars because...

Cops are evil and want to kill innocents

Police departments cannot afford tanks

It's a macho thing

Such firearms are effective means of self-defense

Some seem to believe that just owning a firearm could make you a reckless or violent person. If you had a handgun, you would...

Shoot up the nearest fast food restaurant

Shoot up the nearest Army base

Kill somebody I know next time I get angry

I would continue to be a peaceful person

I would act even more politely than before so as to avoid confrontations

Some seem to believe that having weapons simply makes psychopaths more dangerous. In your opinion, that idea should also be applied to...

Alcohol - the Prohibition worked like a charm

Computers - if everyone just stuck with a 286, we'd have fewer problems with hackers

Cars - the Constitution says nothing about the right to drive, and making everyone drive at 5mph wou

Sex - if we didn't reproduce, there'd be fewer criminals

None of the above

Possession of firearms by felons...

Is already illegal in the United States and these laws need to be better enforced

Is already illegal in the United States and these laws are adequately enforced

Needs to be further restricted with more gun-control laws

Will be better controlled if law-abiding citizens don't have guns

If all firearms were outlawed, criminals would...

Turn in their guns to police and become model citizens

Turn in their guns and beg on the street corner

Turn in their guns and continue their criminal careers without guns

Keep their guns and prey on disarmed, law-abiding people

If a person planning robbery, rape, or murder didn't have a gun, they would...

Cease to violate all laws and get a job

Steal or illegally buy a gun on the black market

Buy a gun from a licensed firearm dealer

Use a knife, baseball bat or other weapon instead

A rapist choosing between two victims (one armed, one unarmed), would prefer to...

Attack the armed one, so he could "take her gun and use it against her"

Attack the unarmed one because that would be less hazardous

Not attack either, as he can't tell which one is armed

The First Amendment to the US Constitution...

Authorizes free speech for official government news agencies

Protects the individual's right to own quill pens

Recognizes inalienable individual right to free speech

The Second Amendment to the US Constitution...

Authorizes possession of arms by the Army and National Guard

Protects the individual's right to own flintlock muskets

Recognizes inalienable individual right to keeping and bearing arms

Do you think police officers should be the only people allowed to carry guns?

Yes

No

Don't know

With which of the following do you agree?

There should be no restrictions on law-abiding citizens owning firearms

There should be a waiting period before a person can buy a firearm

People should be required to pass a firearm-safety course before owning a gun

Gun ownership should be banned altogether

What mandatory safety measures should be required of gun owners?

None - trust law-abiding gun owners to use good judgment

Buyers of guns should be required to take a gun-safety course

Require gun owners to keep firearms locked up at all times

Require gun owners to store firearms at a government facility such as police station

Do you believe that a gun in the home makes the home less safe?

Yes

No

Don't know

Do you believe that having a gun in the home allows people to protect themselves better from invaders?

Yes

No

Don't know

Does owning a gun increase the chance of domestic violence?

Yes

No

Don't know

Does someone in your household own a rifle?

Yes

No

Don't know

Does someone in your household own a shotgun?

Yes

No

Don't know

Does someone in your household own a handgun?

Yes

No

Don't know

If you or a family member have a firearm in your home, what is the primary purpose?

No firearm in my home

Self-defense

Target shooting

Hunting

To commit crimes

Other reasons

Should the average citizen be allowed to get a concealed firearm permit if they have no criminal record or history of mental illness?

Yes, it is a Constitutional right

Yes, after completing training in safety, gun usage, and applicable laws

Only law enforcement officers

Only those who demonstrate a need for such protection (such as celebrities or politicians)

Nobody should have guns

Historically, when a state enacts legislation allowing law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms, violent crime tends to fall significantly in that state. Do you have a license to carry a concealed handgun?

Yes

No

Do you carry a concealed handgun?

Yes

No

The government should maintain a database of all guns and their owners.

Yes

No

Don't know

Once a criminal sees a firearm in the hands of his intended victim, how likely is he to leave the victim alone?

How familiar are you with firearms?

I am ignorant of gun safety and how guns function

I know about gun safety and how guns function from watching TV and movies

I learned the basics of gun safety from a friend or family member

I have taken a firearm safety course

I am a firearms instructor

I would prefer that my kids learn about guns and safety from...

TV and movies

News media

Classmates and childhood friends

Military drill sergeant

Firearms-qualified coach or teacher at school

Unqualified coach or teacher at school

Certified instructor

My spouse or me

Other adult friend or family member

How whould the issue of gun violence in our schools be best addressed?

Metal detectors and/or frisking at school entrances

Increased school security staff presence

Random locker and/or book-bag searches

Better student/parent communication and supervision

Publicly funded psychiatric/counseling staff in schools

Require firearm safety training of all students

Make available optional firearm safety training for students

Should manufacturers and licensed firearms dealers be held liable for the misuse of firearms?

Yes

No

Don't know

The NRA (National Rifle Association www.nra.org) is...

A group of violent, renegade gun nuts

An organization of responsible citizens dedicated to firearms safety and responsible firearm owners

Don't know

With regard to political issues, you consider yourself to be a...

Conservative

Moderate

Liberal

The political party you feel most alligned with is...

Who do you believe does a better job dealing with gun-related crime?

Republicans

Democrats

None of the above

Don't know

The US presently has hundreds of local, state and federal gun control laws in place. Ironically, crime rates are highest in the areas with the most restrictive gun laws. Do you believe that crime would be reduced by additional restrictions on gun ownership by law-abiding citizens?

Yes

No

Don't know

Which measure would be most effective in controlling or deterring crime?

More gun control laws

Better enforcement of existing gun laws

Allow law abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms with appropriate training

Allow law abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms with no training

Eliminate violent content on TV, in movies, and in computer games

As of the date this poll was created, 36 states uphold the right of law-abiding citizens to obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense. Do you support this right?

Yes

No

Don't know

The laws of some states prohibit local governments from enacting their own "patchwork quilt" of conflicting gun control laws. This ensures uniform firearm laws across the state. Do you believe all states should enact similar provisions?

Yes

No

Don't know

Some states have laws which include protections for shooting ranges, preventing these ranges from being shut down for frivolous reasons. Do you believe other states should enact a similar law?

Yes

No

Don't know

Some states have laws protecting the right to hunt and fish. Do you believe other states should enact similar laws?

Yes

No

Don't know

Some states require gun purchasers to obtain a government license before purchasing a handgun. This is in addition to the Federally required background check. Do you believe law-abiding gun owners and purchasers should be required to obtain such a permit in order to exercise their right to own an use a firearm?

Yes

No

Don't know

Should your insurance company be allowed to ask you whether you own firearms?

Yes

No

Don't know

Should your family doctor or your children's pediatrician be allowed to ask your children whether you own firearms?

Yes

No

Don't know