Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Americans say gun sales are up in the United States because of a fear of increased government restriction on gun ownership.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 23% say gun sales have risen because of a fear of increased crime. Twenty-one percent (21%) are not sure.

Sixty-three percent (63%) of men say the threat of more gun control is behind increased sales, compared to 51% of women. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of whites agree, while African-Americans are more closely divided on the question.

Similarly, 65% of Republicans and 66% of those not affiliated with either major political party say gun sales are up due to a fear of increased government restriction. But a plurality of Democrats agrees by just 10 points.

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Seventy-one percent (71%) of Americans believe it is at least somewhat likely that President Obama will seek tougher gun control laws, including 43% who say it is very likely.

In March, 43% of Americans said the United States needed more gun control laws, but 47% disagreed. This marked a slight drop in support for more gun control from last year.

That same month in a separate survey, nearly one-third of Americans (32%) said crime had increased in their communities in the past year, and 72% of those impacted said it was very likely that increase was related to the bad economy.

The Mexican government says guns purchased in the United States are responsible for much of the drug-related violence in Mexico and wants Obama to restrict gun sales in this country. Just 20% of U.S. voters think restricting U.S. gun sales will reduce drug-related violence in Mexico, and 70% disagree and oppose such restrictions.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of Americans believe the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of an average citizen to own a gun.

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