Poll: 9 in 10 Americans support background checks

CBS/iStockphoto

As the White House continues its campaign to build support for stronger national gun laws, a new poll shows that the overwhelming majority of Americans - 92 percent - support the idea of background checks for all gun buyers.

The Quinnipiac University poll, conducted among 1,772 registered voters from Jan. 30-Feb. 4, showed that support among those living in a gun-owning household was almost equally high: 91 percent of those voters said they support universal background checks.

"There is no significant voter opposition to requiring background checks for gun buyers," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, in a statement. "And there is support for banning high volume ammunition clips and assault weapons, with the issue pretty much falling along party lines." The poll echoes similar findings in a CBS News/New York Times poll taken last month.

• CBS News/New York Times: 9 in 10 back universal gun background checks

The Quinnipiac poll shows that voters support stricter nationwide gun control laws by 52 percent to 43 percent; 56 percent also support a ban on assault weapons and the ban of high capacity magazines holding more than ten rounds.

Among those living in gun-owning households, opposition to a ban on assault weapons outweighed support, by 52 percent to 44 percent. Those voters objected similarly to a ban on high capacity magazines, with 52 percent opposing a ban and 45 percent supporting it.

Forty six percent of registered voters said they identified more strongly with the National Rifle Association's views on guns; 43 percent said the same of President Obama.

The poll, which had a +/- 2.3 percent margin of error, also showed vast support for the Obama administration's recent announcement that it will allow women to serve in combat roles in the military, with 72 percent of registered voters supporting the idea.

Among women, that support was even more pronounced: 77 percent said they favored allowing women to serve in combat roles, while 21 percent opposed the idea. (A CBS News poll released last week showed 66 percent support). Thirty-six percent of men said allowing women in combat would enhance military effectiveness, and 34 percent said it would compromise effectiveness. Women said 46-30 percent that introducing women to combat roles would enhance effectiveness.

• CBS News poll: Most support women in combat

Views are more mixed on whether or not women should be included in a draft in the event that one is reinstated. Fifty-two percent of all voters say women should be drafted in that case, with divisions along gender lines. More women oppose than support the idea by a small margin (48-45 percent), while men support drafting women by a margin of 59 percent to 36 percent.

In general, however, most voters (65 percent) oppose reinstating the draft at all.

[RickB2400]

logictoo replies: .... It is because it is not illegal to be sick and a person has a right to privacy
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Ok logic .. I'll take the Mentally ill part out of the COF list. Now that we have solved the whole gun control debate, let's move onto another subject.
School safety - How are we going to keep our children safe in schools ? After all a school shooting is what started this explosion on the gun control debate. I believe school safety is a worthy subject that requires our attention. Any suggestions ?

[gphx]

In the two most recent publicied shooting events, the ex LAPD officer shooting cops and the Sandy Hook school shooting, one was a former police officer, and the other stole the guns he use. It is difficult to be more thoroughly vetted than to be a former police officer. It is impossible to prevent theft. Canada implemented a vast, costly gun registration program then ended it when statistics showed no change in gun related deaths to justify the expense and intrusion of privacy. When the government makes it difficult for criminals or crazy people to buy guns they'll just steal them or, as in the case of the Sandy Hook perpetrator, kill someone in order to get them. In the end crime stats won't change or will actually go up. Your privacy and rights of private sale will be violated for nothing. Just say no to these laws. Like most laws, they only apply to law abiders.

[citzenwatcher]

I also support background checks, that said Chris Rock is a bigot
and a hypocrite.

[RickB2400]

I agree. I don't recall him calling Bush his Daddy. Or Maybe he is calling Obama his daddy because he doesn't know who is daddy is ? I'm betting Father's Day is the most confusing holiday for Mr. Rock. Chris Rock talking politics - What a joke.

[RickB2400]

slow_news replies: Absolutely incorrect
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If you say so .. OK. I noticed that you didn't respond to by background check post. I'm curious if you have an opinion on the subject ?

[RickB2400]

Guns have 2 enemies .... Rust and citizen disarmament zealots.

[RickB2400]

I have an idea that will eliminate the need for background checks and save tons of money. Create a national data base with the names and SSN's of all criminals and certified mentally ill people. Make the list public and easy to access. We do it with sex offenders. That way all gun dealers and private citizens will know who not to sell or trade their guns to. Then the average law abiding citizen's rights are not violated and they can own any type rifle that they want to own. Problem solved - Time to move onto the next subject. I would suggest that the subject that we move onto is school security. We need to DEMAND A PLAN to keep our children safe while they are in school. After all, isn't that what really started the who gun control debate. Seems we are off the topic of protecting our children.

[RickB2400]

hillzagain : The seller wouldn't have to do any research. The Federal Gov't would be the ones doing the research. The seller would just have to reference the list.
Sorry to hear about your SIL. I feel your pain. I have a SIL just like her. Unfortunately we cannot violate the rights of all Americans for a few "raving b!t**" that could possibly slip through the cracks

[logictoo]

Why not make it public those that have Aids Hepititis and such? Are they not a potential danger to society? Alcoholism is claimed to be a disease but wouldn't it be good if all alcoholics were in a data base and were made public and not allowed a driver permit. We would be more safe don't you think? It is because it is not illegal to be sick and a person has a right to privacy. Sex offenders have criminal history which is public record.

[RickB2400]

bilrobi1 replies: linkicon reporticon emailicon Would it be better for you if a white cop was running around shooting black cops?
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If it was that way, every anti-gun politician would be all over the TV talking about it. You can bet on that.

[RickB2400]

"9 in 10 Americans support" ..... Yea Right. ha ha ha ha... You couldn't get 9 out of 10 Americans to agree on what day of the week it is. Who are these "1,772 registered voters"? Maybe friends and family of the people doing the poll ?? Give me a break.

[RetiredArmy3333]

I agree with you Rick, NO ONE that I know supports this insane idea. Criminals won't register their stolen weapons. This idea is specifically targeted towards the law-abiding citizens. And this registry may be used to confiscate our Legal firearms in the near future.

[RickB2400]

I wasn't one of the 1,772 people polled either.

[yankskeptic]

The headline news is that most Americans still OPPOSE the ban of those military-looking, "assault weapons" and the ban of high capacity. Universal background checks that include mental health records may be a popular, commonsense gun-control law. But will any new gun-control reduce gun violence and massacres???......Most Americans will probably say no and that they are ineffective.... So why is the President and Feinstein so sure of themselves???