Forty-three percent (43%) of Americans say it is Very Likely that the Obama Administration will try to implement stricter gun control laws even though 47% see no need for such laws. Another 28% say the administration is somewhat likely to seek tougher gun control.

Among gun owners 49% see stricter gun controls as Very Likely.

Overall, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 16% of the nation’s adults think the administration is unlikely to implement stricter gun control laws.

While 47% see no need for new gun control laws, 43% of adults nationwide say America does need more legal restrictions. This marks a slight drop-off in support for more gun control from surveys in October and June.

The new findings come amid news reports that gun sales are up, primarily because of fears that stricter regulations may be coming.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of Democrats say the United States needs stricter laws regulating firearms, but 67% of Republicans and 57% of Americans not affiliated with either major party disagree.

Thirty-five percent (35%) of all Americans say stricter gun control laws will reduce violent crime, while 25% believe it will lead to an increase in such crime. Nearly as many--31%--say they will have no impact.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? Sign up now. If it's in the news, it's in our polls.) Rasmussen Reports updates also available on Twitter.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced last month that President Obama wants to restore the ban on the sales of so-called “assault weapons” that expired in 2004.

A majority of Democrats (54%) are confident that stricter gun laws will reduce violence, while a plurality of Republicans say they would lead to more violence. Those not affiliated with either major party are evenly divided.

Fifty percent (50%) of women say the country needs stronger gun control laws, compared to 36% of men. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of men see no such need, and 36% of women agree. But women are not much more confident than men that the laws will actually reduce violent crime.

Just before the election last November, 63% of voters said Obama was more likely than Republican presidential candidate John McCain to restrict an individual’s right to own a gun.

Nearly one-third of Americans say crime has increased in their communities in the past year, and 72% of those impacted say it is Very Likely that increase is related to the poor economy.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free)… let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.