MEMORANDUM
TO: KEVIN McLAUGHLIN – COMMON SENSE LEADERSHIP FUND
FROM: NEIL NEWHOUSE & LUKE JACKSON – PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES DAVE SACKETT – THE TARRANCE GROUP JON LERNER – BASSWOOD RESEARCH ERIK IVERSON – MOORE INFORMATION GROUP RANDY GUTERMUTH – AMERICAN VIEWPOINT
DATE: JUNE 13, 2022
SUBJECT: KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY OF VOTERS IN GUN-OWNING HOUSEHOLDS
On behalf of the Common Sense Leadership Fund, Public Opinion Strategies, in consultation with the other pollsters listed above, completed a survey of N=1000 registered voters in gun-owning households across the United States. N=500 interviews were conducted online and N=500 were conducted via telephone (N=200 via Landline / N=300 via Cell Phone). The survey was conducted June 9-12, 2022 and has a credibility interval of ±3.53%. Respondents in the telephone portion of this survey were called from a national list of registered voters, and respondents in the online portion were drawn from a national panel of registered voters. All respondents were further screened to ensure they were registered to vote and that someone in their household currently owns a firearm. Modest weights were applied by gender, age, ethnicity, education, 2020 presidential election vote, and geography to match the 2020 AP VoteCast national exit poll data among registered voters in gun-owning households (N=12,056).
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. There is overwhelming support for the proposed package of gun safety legislation that would provide for mandatory background checks, expanded background checks for people under 21, and increased funding for school resource officers and mental health counselors.
When asked about potential gun safety legislation, voters in gun-owning households overwhelming support its passage in Congress by an 84% support – 13% oppose margin, including 54% who say they would “strongly support” this package.
“Now, let’s just assume for a moment that Congress passed gun legislation that specifically… Makes background checks mandatory for all gun purchases, with the exception of between family members, allows gun dealers more time to complete background checks for those people under 21 trying to buy a gun, and increases funding for school resource officers and mental health counselors. Would you support or oppose this package of new gun safety laws?”
2. There is also broad support for mandatory waiting periods on all purchases of semi-automatic guns, such as the AR-15, for those under 21 years old, as well as mandatory background checks on all gun sales, including purchases at gun shows or online.
3. Voters in gun-owning households are firmly behind other gun safety proposals including “Red-Flag Laws” and keeping guns away from those who have been convicted of domestic violence.
4. Proposals aimed at increasing school safety and increasing support for mental health are also widely popular among gun owners.
