Crime Control and Gun Control
Which of the following do you believe is the most important problem facing our country?
| 60% (96) | Breakdown of traditional family | |
|---|---|---|
| 15% (25) | Crime and violence | |
| 7% (12) | Drugs | |
| 7% (12) | Education | |
| 1% (2) | Environment | |
| 1% (2) | Guns | |
| 5% (9) | Poverty |
158 voters have answered this question.
The proper government response to electronic fraud is...
| 0% (0) | Prohibit law-abiding citizens from buying computers | |
|---|---|---|
| 0% (1) | Limit law-abiding citizens to computers that have no more than two of the following features: 66MHz | |
| 99% (152) | Prosecute the perpetrator of the crime |
153 voters have answered this question.
The proper government response to arson is...
| 0% (1) | Prohibit law-abiding citizens from heating their homes with flammable materials such as natural gas, | |
|---|---|---|
| 1% (3) | Prohibit law-abiding citizens from buying any flammable fluids, matches and lighters | |
| 97% (151) | Prosecute the perpetrator of the crime |
155 voters have answered this question.
The proper government response to a drive-by shooting is...
| 1% (2) | Prohibit law-abiding citizens from buying the type of the car used by the perpetrator | |
|---|---|---|
| 2% (4) | Prohibit law-abiding citizens from buying the type of firearm used by the perpetrator | |
| 96% (148) | Prosecute the perpetrator of the crime |
154 voters have answered this question.
Someone planning a drive-by shooting would use...
| 1% (3) | Only legal 10-round magazines because they plan to get caught | |
|---|---|---|
| 98% (150) | Anything he wants because he doesn't plan to get caught |
153 voters have answered this question.
Is it morally correct for a police officer to shoot in order to save an innocent victim from an attack?
| 98% (153) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1% (3) | No |
156 voters have answered this question.
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?
| 99% (154) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 0% (1) | No |
155 voters have answered this question.
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?
| 4% (7) | Very unlikely | |
|---|---|---|
| 8% (13) | Unlikely | |
| 41% (65) | Possible | |
| 29% (45) | Likely | |
| 16% (25) | Very likely |
155 voters have answered this question.
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?
| 70% (110) | Very unlikely | |
|---|---|---|
| 21% (33) | Unlikely | |
| 5% (9) | Possible | |
| 0% (0) | Likely | |
| 2% (4) | Very likely |
156 voters have answered this question.
If your child or spouse were assaulted, you would...
| 0% (0) | Run away and hope my family member can keep up with me | |
|---|---|---|
| 1% (2) | Be a good witness so you can later tell the police what happened | |
| 3% (6) | Try to convince the attacker to stop through verbal persuasion | |
| 94% (147) | Fight to stop the attack |
155 voters have answered this question.
If you choose to resist an attacker, your primary concern would be...
| 0% (1) | Health and safety of the attacker | |
|---|---|---|
| 99% (152) | Your own safety |
153 voters have answered this question.
Given a choice, you would prefer to defend yourself with...
| 1% (2) | Your bare hands | |
|---|---|---|
| 1% (2) | A relatively ineffective weapon, such as pepper spray | |
| 3% (5) | Whatever weapon is at hand, such as a stick or a rock | |
| 94% (147) | An effective weapon, such as a firearm |
156 voters have answered this question.
If you choose to defend yourself with a firearm, you would favor the...
| 3% (6) | Least effective type possible | |
|---|---|---|
| 96% (149) | Most effective type possible |
155 voters have answered this question.
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...
| 1% (3) | One round | |
|---|---|---|
| 5% (8) | Six rounds | |
| 18% (28) | Ten rounds | |
| 74% (115) | 30 rounds |
154 voters have answered this question.
Police officers carry high-capacity handguns and keep shotguns or submachine guns in patrol cars because...
| 0% (1) | Cops are evil and want to kill innocents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1% (3) | Police departments cannot afford tanks | |
| 2% (4) | It's a macho thing | |
| 94% (146) | Such firearms are effective means of self-defense |
154 voters have answered this question.
Some seem to believe that just owning a firearm could make you a reckless or violent person. If you had a handgun, you would...
| 0% (0) | Shoot up the nearest fast food restaurant | |
|---|---|---|
| 1% (2) | Shoot up the nearest Army base | |
| 0% (0) | Kill somebody I know next time I get angry | |
| 50% (79) | I would continue to be a peaceful person | |
| 47% (74) | I would act even more politely than before so as to avoid confrontations |
155 voters have answered this question.
Some seem to believe that having weapons simply makes psychopaths more dangerous. In your opinion, that idea should also be applied to...
| 12% (19) | Alcohol - the Prohibition worked like a charm | |
|---|---|---|
| 1% (2) | Computers - if everyone just stuck with a 286, we'd have fewer problems with hackers | |
| 5% (9) | Cars - the Constitution says nothing about the right to drive, and making everyone drive at 5mph wou | |
| 2% (4) | Sex - if we didn't reproduce, there'd be fewer criminals | |
| 77% (118) | None of the above |
152 voters have answered this question.
Possession of firearms by felons...
| 84% (131) | Is already illegal in the United States and these laws need to be better enforced | |
|---|---|---|
| 10% (17) | Is already illegal in the United States and these laws are adequately enforced | |
| 1% (3) | Needs to be further restricted with more gun-control laws | |
| 2% (4) | Will be better controlled if law-abiding citizens don't have guns |
155 voters have answered this question.
If all firearms were outlawed, criminals would...
| 0% (1) | Turn in their guns to police and become model citizens | |
|---|---|---|
| 0% (1) | Turn in their guns and beg on the street corner | |
| 0% (1) | Turn in their guns and continue their criminal careers without guns | |
| 98% (152) | Keep their guns and prey on disarmed, law-abiding people |
155 voters have answered this question.
If a person planning robbery, rape, or murder didn't have a gun, they would...
| 1% (3) | Cease to violate all laws and get a job | |
|---|---|---|
| 55% (86) | Steal or illegally buy a gun on the black market | |
| 0% (1) | Buy a gun from a licensed firearm dealer | |
| 41% (65) | Use a knife, baseball bat or other weapon instead |
155 voters have answered this question.
A rapist choosing between two victims (one armed, one unarmed), would prefer to...
| 1% (2) | Attack the armed one, so he could "take her gun and use it against her" | |
|---|---|---|
| 74% (116) | Attack the unarmed one because that would be less hazardous | |
| 23% (37) | Not attack either, as he can't tell which one is armed |
155 voters have answered this question.
The First Amendment to the US Constitution...
| 3% (5) | Authorizes free speech for official government news agencies | |
|---|---|---|
| 0% (1) | Protects the individual's right to own quill pens | |
| 96% (148) | Recognizes inalienable individual right to free speech |
154 voters have answered this question.
The Second Amendment to the US Constitution...
| 1% (2) | Authorizes possession of arms by the Army and National Guard | |
|---|---|---|
| 0% (1) | Protects the individual's right to own flintlock muskets | |
| 98% (152) | Recognizes inalienable individual right to keeping and bearing arms |
155 voters have answered this question.
Do you think police officers should be the only people allowed to carry guns?
| 1% (3) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 95% (149) | No | |
| 2% (4) | Don't know |
156 voters have answered this question.
With which of the following do you agree?
| 72% (112) | There should be no restrictions on law-abiding citizens owning firearms | |
|---|---|---|
| 3% (6) | There should be a waiting period before a person can buy a firearm | |
| 21% (34) | People should be required to pass a firearm-safety course before owning a gun | |
| 1% (3) | Gun ownership should be banned altogether |
155 voters have answered this question.
What mandatory safety measures should be required of gun owners?
| 63% (99) | None - trust law-abiding gun owners to use good judgment | |
|---|---|---|
| 30% (48) | Buyers of guns should be required to take a gun-safety course | |
| 3% (6) | Require gun owners to keep firearms locked up at all times | |
| 1% (2) | Require gun owners to store firearms at a government facility such as police station |
155 voters have answered this question.
Do you believe that a gun in the home makes the home less safe?
| 2% (4) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 95% (149) | No | |
| 1% (3) | Don't know |
156 voters have answered this question.
Do you believe that having a gun in the home allows people to protect themselves better from invaders?
| 97% (152) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1% (3) | No | |
| 0% (1) | Don't know |
156 voters have answered this question.
Does owning a gun increase the chance of domestic violence?
| 2% (4) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 90% (140) | No | |
| 7% (11) | Don't know |
155 voters have answered this question.
Does someone in your household own a rifle?
| 82% (126) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 13% (21) | No | |
| 3% (6) | Don't know |
153 voters have answered this question.
Does someone in your household own a shotgun?
| 73% (113) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 24% (37) | No | |
| 2% (4) | Don't know |
154 voters have answered this question.
Does someone in your household own a handgun?
| 82% (125) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 15% (23) | No | |
| 2% (4) | Don't know |
152 voters have answered this question.
If you or a family member have a firearm in your home, what is the primary purpose?
| 6% (10) | No firearm in my home | |
|---|---|---|
| 50% (78) | Self-defense | |
| 19% (30) | Target shooting | |
| 18% (28) | Hunting | |
| 0% (0) | To commit crimes | |
| 4% (7) | Other reasons |
153 voters have answered this question.
Should the average citizen be allowed to get a concealed firearm permit if they have no criminal record or history of mental illness?
| 55% (87) | Yes, it is a Constitutional right | |
|---|---|---|
| 41% (65) | Yes, after completing training in safety, gun usage, and applicable laws | |
| 0% (0) | Only law enforcement officers | |
| 1% (2) | Only those who demonstrate a need for such protection (such as celebrities or politicians) | |
| 1% (2) | Nobody should have guns |
156 voters have answered this question.
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?
| 48% (74) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 51% (80) | No |
154 voters have answered this question.
Do you carry a concealed handgun?
| 49% (76) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 50% (79) | No |
155 voters have answered this question.
The government should maintain a database of all guns and their owners.
| 14% (23) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 80% (126) | No | |
| 5% (8) | Don't know |
157 voters have answered this question.
Once a criminal sees a firearm in the hands of his intended victim, how likely is he to leave the victim alone?
| 5% (9) | Very unlikely | |
|---|---|---|
| 1% (3) | Unlikely | |
| 6% (10) | Possible | |
| 15% (24) | Likely | |
| 70% (110) | Very likely |
156 voters have answered this question.
How familiar are you with firearms?
| 1% (2) | I am ignorant of gun safety and how guns function | |
|---|---|---|
| 2% (4) | I know about gun safety and how guns function from watching TV and movies | |
| 23% (37) | I learned the basics of gun safety from a friend or family member | |
| 58% (92) | I have taken a firearm safety course | |
| 13% (21) | I am a firearms instructor |
156 voters have answered this question.
I would prefer that my kids learn about guns and safety from...
| 0% (1) | TV and movies | |
|---|---|---|
| 0% (0) | News media | |
| 0% (1) | Classmates and childhood friends | |
| 1% (2) | Military drill sergeant | |
| 7% (11) | Firearms-qualified coach or teacher at school | |
| 1% (2) | Unqualified coach or teacher at school | |
| 30% (47) | Certified instructor | |
| 56% (86) | My spouse or me | |
| 1% (3) | Other adult friend or family member |
153 voters have answered this question.
How whould the issue of gun violence in our schools be best addressed?
| 10% (15) | Metal detectors and/or frisking at school entrances | |
|---|---|---|
| 13% (20) | Increased school security staff presence | |
| 3% (5) | Random locker and/or book-bag searches | |
| 36% (55) | Better student/parent communication and supervision | |
| 2% (3) | Publicly funded psychiatric/counseling staff in schools | |
| 12% (18) | Require firearm safety training of all students | |
| 22% (34) | Make available optional firearm safety training for students |
150 voters have answered this question.
Should manufacturers and licensed firearms dealers be held liable for the misuse of firearms?
| 3% (5) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 95% (149) | No | |
| 1% (2) | Don't know |
156 voters have answered this question.
The NRA (National Rifle Association www.nra.org) is...
| 3% (5) | A group of violent, renegade gun nuts | |
|---|---|---|
| 93% (146) | An organization of responsible citizens dedicated to firearms safety and responsible firearm owners | |
| 3% (5) | Don't know |
156 voters have answered this question.
With regard to political issues, you consider yourself to be a...
| 64% (95) | Conservative | |
|---|---|---|
| 30% (45) | Moderate | |
| 5% (8) | Liberal |
148 voters have answered this question.
The political party you feel most alligned with is...
| 1% (2) | Communist | |
|---|---|---|
| 5% (8) | Democratic | |
| 2% (4) | Green | |
| 23% (37) | Libertarian | |
| 50% (79) | Republican | |
| 0% (1) | Socialist | |
| 15% (24) | Other |
155 voters have answered this question.
Who do you believe does a better job dealing with gun-related crime?
| 52% (82) | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| 2% (4) | Democrats | |
| 31% (49) | None of the above | |
| 13% (21) | Don't know |
156 voters have answered this question.
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?
| 8% (13) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 88% (136) | No | |
| 3% (5) | Don't know |
154 voters have answered this question.
Which measure would be most effective in controlling or deterring crime?
| 1% (2) | More gun control laws | |
|---|---|---|
| 23% (36) | Better enforcement of existing gun laws | |
| 60% (95) | Allow law abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms with appropriate training | |
| 14% (22) | Allow law abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms with no training | |
| 0% (1) | Eliminate violent content on TV, in movies, and in computer games |
156 voters have answered this question.
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?
| 96% (148) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 2% (4) | No | |
| 1% (2) | Don't know |
154 voters have answered this question.
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?
| 75% (116) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 9% (15) | No | |
| 14% (22) | Don't know |
153 voters have answered this question.
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?
| 89% (137) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 6% (10) | No | |
| 3% (6) | Don't know |
153 voters have answered this question.
Some states have laws protecting the right to hunt and fish. Do you believe other states should enact similar laws?
| 90% (141) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 3% (6) | No | |
| 5% (8) | Don't know |
155 voters have answered this question.
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?
| 13% (21) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 81% (125) | No | |
| 5% (8) | Don't know |
154 voters have answered this question.
Should your insurance company be allowed to ask you whether you own firearms?
| 8% (13) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 87% (137) | No | |
| 3% (6) | Don't know |
156 voters have answered this question.
Should your family doctor or your children's pediatrician be allowed to ask your children whether you own firearms?
| 10% (16) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 87% (138) | No | |
| 1% (3) | Don't know |
157 voters have answered this question.
