Poll: Majority of Americans back stricter gun laws

By Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto, Fred Backus and Leigh Ann Caldwell

As the president outlined sweeping new proposals aimed to reduce gun violence, a new CBS News/New York Times poll found that Americans back the central components of the president's proposals, including background checks, a national gun sale database, limits on high capacity magazines and a ban on semi-automatic weapons.

CBS News

Asked if they generally back stricter gun laws, more than half of respondents - 54 percent - support stricter gun laws; 53 percent say it would deter gun violence. That is a jump from April - before the Newtown and Aurora shootings - when only 39 percent backed stricter gun laws but about the same as ten years ago.

Not all respondents, however, back stricter gun laws. The idea is more popular among Democrats and a slight majority of independents while only 31 percent of Republicans back stricter limits on guns. The ideological split is similar to the split among gun ownership. While 74 percent of people who don't keep guns in the house back stricter gun laws, 36 percent of gun owning households do and 26 percent of gun owners.

When asked about specific proposals, however, people were more inclined to back stricter gun laws. For instance, nine out of 10 respondents support background checks on all potential gun buyers, and nearly four-fifths of respondents are in favor of a national database to track gun sales. As for limiting access, 63 percent support a ban on high-capacity magazines and 53 percent back a ban on semi-automatic weapons.

The president proposed all of those ideas during a news conference Wednesday after receiving recommendations from a task force led by Vice President Joe Biden.

Gun owners, however, had a somewhat different take. While 70 percent back a national database, 64 percent oppose a ban on semi-automatic weapons and 51 percent oppose a ban of high-capacity magazines.

The least popular idea asked in the poll would drastically change the nature of gun ownership in many places around the country and was not proposed by the president. A national ban on carrying concealed firearms was opposed by two-thirds.

The president did propose expanded access to mental health records, which 82 percent of respondents say would at least somewhat help prevent gun violence. As for other preventative measures, 74 percent say that armed security guards would also help prevent mass shootings in public places, and 75 percent say gun violence in movies and video games are a contributing factor.

CBS News

The major players around gun policy receive mixed ratings. Respondents said they trusted the president more than Republicans in Congress to deal with the issue by 47 to 39 percent. Vice President Joe Biden received a similar rating to the president, with 49 percent supporting his role, which has been a central to the gun debate. The National Rifle Association, the gun lobby opposed to gun restrictions and the president's proposals, have similar approval ratings to Republicans in Congress. Thirty-eight percent have a favorable view of the organization, 29 percent view it unfavorably and 31 percent are undecided.

For the full poll results, see next page.

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This poll was conducted by telephone from January 11-15, 2013 among 1,110 adults nationwide.

Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

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[peter_out]

Here's a plan. For every gun that a bad guy turns in, a gun should be turned in by a good guy.

It can be an honor system and should work perfectly.

[peter_out]

Also, for every background check turned in by a bad guy, a good guy should turn in a background check.

This, too, can be an honor system and should work perfectly.

[RkGm20]

newsmax.com/Surveys/Results/id/64

Currently has 700,000 votes, and an email confirmation is required to count your vote.

[hokie123]

Who did CBS survey? The people of California, Northern Virginia and New York. Or was it the members of the gangs of Chicago, NYC and LA. This is not a true reflection on the citizens of this great country. The NRA has a better rating than Congress.

[Segesser1]

They probably ran the poll at the white house.

[OIF_to_USC]

Another media sponsored, rigged and choreographed poll. Background checks are already mandatory. In fact, the NRA sponsored the current National Instant Background Check System currently used to access the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. At the same time, the Brady Campaign was pushing for more worthless waiting periods.

Interestingly, NRA membership is now passing the 5 million mark supported by tens of millions of non-dues paying 2nd Amendment supporters who are active in political action and at the polls. Concealed carry permits are passing 25 million and there are untold millions of "so-called" assault rifles in the hands of responsible, law abiding Americans -- many owned by liberals who support the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Joe Biden might be wise to go back to his boss and ask for another assignment to keep him busy.

[Segesser1]

They obviously did not take the poll from their comments section.

[SurlyBob]

This is pure propaganda and lies. Don't believe it. The majority of Americans and especially the MILLIONS of American gun owners DO NOT WANT MORE RESTRICTIVE LAWS. This administration won't even follow the existing laws on the books - See FAST AND FURIOUS...where our government forced dealers to break the law and sell guns to known straw buyers for the mexican cartels. This resulted in two dead American border agents and HUNDREDS of dead Mexican citizens in Mexico. And they covered their crimes because they feel they are above the law and they seem to be proving it. This is TYRANNY. Enforce the laws on the books Feinstein! You won't even do that! Stick your new laws up your copious backside.

[SurlyBob]

This is pure propaganda and lies. Don't believe it. The majority of Americans and especially the MILLIONS of American gun owners DO NOT WANT MORE RESTRICTIVE LAWS. This administration won't even follow the existing laws on the books - See FAST AND FURIOUS...where our government forced dealers to break the law and sell guns to known straw buyers for the mexican cartels. This resulted in two dead American border agents and HUNDREDS of dead Mexican citizens in Mexico. And they covered their crimes because they feel they are above the law and they seem to be proving it. This is TYRANNY. Enforce the laws on the books Feinstein! You won't even do that! Stick your new laws up your copious backside.

[dj4240]

Polls can be rigged..this is common knowledge, and is a common propaganda tool used by the liberal media...Most informed Americans do not favor any gun bans because they have been proven to be ineffective and do nothing in the prevention of the loss of lives. Most pro gun citizens are in favor of enforcing the 20.000 gun laws that are already on the books.

[outback_jackson]

CPTDEUCE replies: "So what is the plan?"

CPTDEUCE replies: "CRICKETS?"



Patience is a virtue, and I'm doing more than one thing this morning.

Obviously, it's our dysfunctional congress that needs to come up with the plan of universal background checks with TEETH for the violators.

Will it solve all the firearm problems?........hell no, but it's a start!

[cptdeuce]

All of us need to hold this congress accountable for clearly defined actions (which includes compromise) to do what they were elected to do. Have a great weekend.

[outback_jackson]

I agree....we all need to hold these bozos accountable for their actions as well as their inactions, and try to force them to compromise for the good of the American people as a whole.

You have a great weekend as well.

[outback_jackson]

CPTDEUCE replies: "Who pays for this bureaucracy?"



I think of it more as "protection" against those that shouldn't be able to possess firearms, and a slight fee like for "instacheck" when I bought my last gun from a FFL dealer, should cover the universal background check.

[cptdeuce]

I agree with Universal Background checks. The question is what is the plan to enforce the existing laws (or those added) when they are not even eforcing the current laws?
I already provided you alink from the NYT that shows our government is already failing to prosecute those that lied or provided inaccurate information about their criminal histories on background-check forms.
This is not a partisan issue and should be dealt with effectively. The question is what is the plan?

[outback_jackson]

CPTDEUCE replies: "I agree with Universal Background checks. The question is what is the plan to enforce the existing laws (or those added) when they are not even eforcing the current laws?"



See, I love common ground which is so hard to find in this dysfunctional congress, which probably means dropping the "assault weapons" ban since it's an uphill battle anyway, and eliminate the so-called "gun show loophole" with a universal background check with TEETH to put violators behind bars.

Obviously, if our dysfunctional congress wanted to solve some of the many problems we have today, they would find common ground and fix those problems, instead of being recalcitrant.

[outback_jackson]

CPTDEUCE replies: "That shows you how dysfunctional our congress is. I don't disagree. But the article is about stricter gun laws."



I understand, and it will just show how truly dysfunctional our congress is when they begin any debate on gun laws, with the same republicans blocking any debate and obstructing something that 92% of the American people support, in order to protect the NRA gun manufacturers and gun dealers!

A minority of right-wing obstructionists should not be able to block the WILL OF THE PEOPLE, but mark my words, it will indeed happen!

[Segesser1]

Background checks good
Gun bans bad very bad!