Gun Control

41% Think Government Should Keep A List of All Gun Owners

Voters are closely divided over whether the federal government should keep a list of every gun owner in the country. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters think the federal government should maintain a database with the name and address of all gun owners in the United States. Slightly more (47%) disagree and oppose a government database of all gun owners. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 30-31, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

51% Think Background Checks for Gun Buyers Will Not Reduce Violent Crime

Support for requiring a strict background check to buy a gun remains high, but most voters believe these checks will not reduce the level of violent crime in America.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Likely U.S. voters believe a strict background check should be required for anyone to buy a gun in the United States. Only 16% disagree.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 30-31, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

52% Want More Gun Control Laws; 10% Favor Handgun Ban

Just over half of voters think the country needs more gun control, but most feel safer living in a neighborhood where someone can own a gun for their own protection.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States needs stricter gun control laws. Forty-two percent (42%) disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 26-27, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

22% See More Gun Control As Best Curb to Mass Murders

Support for banning semi-automatic and assault-type weapons has changed little, but Americans feel more strongly than ever that treating mental illness will do more than stricter gun control laws to help prevent incidents like the Connecticut school shooting. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults finds that 55% think there should be a ban on the purchase of semi-automatic and assault-type weapons, showing no change from late December. Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 7-8, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

59% Still Think Tougher Gun Control Laws Likely

Most Americans continue to believe that Congress and the president are likely to pass tougher gun control laws, and nearly half think the Obama administration has done a good job responding to the December elementary school shooting in Connecticut.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Americans still feel the United States needs stricter gun control laws. Forty-five percent (45%) disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 7-8, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

53% Favor Background Checks for Existing Gun Owners

Americans strongly believe that it was wrong for a suburban New York newspaper to publish the names and addresses of legitimate gun owners, but most also favor background checks for existing gun owners to determine whether they should keep their firearm.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 17% of American Adults feel it was appropriate for the newspaper to publish the names and addresses of all residents in its area who have legal gun permits. Seventy-four percent (74%) think it was not appropriate for the newspaper to print that information. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 16-17, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

57% Think Enforcing Current Gun Laws More Important Than Creating New Laws

Most Americans feel it is more important for the government to enforce existing gun control laws than to create new ones. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 32% of American Adults believe creation of new gun control laws is more important. Fifty-seven percent (57%) think more emphasis should be put on stricter enforcement of existing gun control laws. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 16-17, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

65% See Gun Rights As Protection Against Tyranny

Two-out-of-three Americans recognize that their constitutional right to own a gun was intended to ensure their freedom.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of American Adults think the purpose of the Second Amendment is to make sure that people are able to protect themselves from tyranny. Only 17% disagree, while another 18% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 16-17, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

74% Think Americans Have Constitutional Right To Own A Gun

While most Americans are clear they want tougher rules for gun ownership, they also feel as strongly as ever that the average citizen has a constitutional right to own a gun. Only a plurality, however, feels that laws governing gun ownership should be a federal responsibility.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of American Adults continue to believe the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of an average citizen to own a gun. Only 17% disagree, while nine percent (9%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 6-7, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Strongly Support Tougher Requirements for Gun Owners

Americans nationwide show overwhelming support for requiring strict background checks, waiting periods and safety courses for those wishing to obtain a gun.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 86% of American Adults believe a strict background check should be required for anyone looking to buy a gun. Ten percent (10%) don’t favor this requirement. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Currently, an FBI background check is only required for those seeking to buy a gun from a commercial gun dealer who has a federal license.

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

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 6-7, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

66% Say Colorado Shooter Suspect Should Get Death Penalty

In the wake of the Aurora, Colorado shootings, more Americans than ever support the death penalty, and most feel this punishment is appropriate for the suspected killer if he's convicted. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of American Adults now favor the death penalty, while just 25% oppose it.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on July 24-25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

41% Say U.S. Needs Stricter Gun Laws

Most Americans are following the news about the horrific movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado last week, but an overwhelming majority doubts that public places can ever be made completely safe from such violence. Support for stricter gun control laws remains basically unchanged.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just nine percent (9%) of American Adults believe public places can be made completely safe against violence like the incident in Colorado. Seventy-nine percent (79%) disagree and say they cannot be made safer. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 20-21, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

39% Say Community Watch Officers Should Be Allowed To Carry A Gun

Comedian Bill Cosby said recently that the Trayvon Martin case raised serious questions about community watch volunteers being allowed to carry guns. "We've got to get the gun out of the hands of people who are supposed to be on neighborhood watch,” Cosby said.  "Without a gun, I don't see [George] Zimmerman approaching Trayvon by himself." Americans have mixed feelings about Cosby's analysis. 

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of American Adults think volunteer community watch officers should be allowed to carry guns, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Forty-six percent (46%) disagree and think these volunteers should not be armed. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on April 11-12, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

38% Favor Stricter Gun Control, 50% Oppose

Gun crimes remains a common feature in the news, but most Americans still don’t see a need for stronger gun control.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of American Adults now think the United States needs stricter gun control laws, but that’s virtually unchanged in regular tracking back to February 2006. Fifty percent (50%) see no need for tougher anti-gun laws, while 11% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 6-7, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Say Stricter Gun Laws Would Not Help Prevent Shootings

Most Americans say stronger gun control laws are not the answer to the shootings last weekend of a U.S. congresswoman and the killing of six others.

67% Say Cities Have No Right To Ban Handguns

Sixty-seven percent (67%) of Americans say city governments do not have the right to prevent citizens from owning handguns, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

47% Oppose Open-Carry Gun Laws, 41% Favor

Most Americans are not concerned about their safety around those who have legal permits to carry concealed weapons but have mixed feelings about laws that would allow gun owners to wear their weapons openly in public.

69% Say Cities Don’t Have Right To Ban Handguns

The Supreme Court is wrestling with a major case questioning whether Chicago’s handgun ban violates the Second Amendment, but 69% of Americans say city governments do not have the right to prevent citizens from owning such guns.

50% Oppose Stricter Gun Control Laws

Just 39% of Americans now say the United States needs stricter gun control, as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to review the constitutionality of state and local anti-gun laws.

75% Believe Constitution Guarantees Right To Own A Gun

Seventy-five percent (75%) of Americans believe the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of an average citizen to own a gun, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.