Gun control opinions

Large majorities of Americans believe they should be allowed to have guns, but many Americans also favor stricter control of guns, according to a new Harris Poll.

The Harris survey found that Americans particularly favor controls on hand guns, although this number has decreased significantly in the past few years.

Harris Interactive surveyed 2,503 U.S. adults surveyed online between May 10 and 17.

Harris noted in a statement: “Since Americans feel strongly that the U.S. Constitution allows for an individual’s right to bear arms, it’s not all together surprising that many Americans think having guns should be allowed — in fact, over 80 million American adults have firearms today. However, the right to have a gun, and the need to have it regulated are not mutually exclusive. To this point, almost twice as many Americans support stricter, rather than less strict, gun control.”

SURVEY FINDINGS
• A plurality of adults (45%) favor stricter gun control and 26% favor less strict gun control. However, the percentage who favors stricter gun control has decreased since 2008 when a 49% to 20% plurality felt this way.

• Concerning control of hand guns, half (50%) of adults favor stricter laws and a quarter (23%) favor less strict laws. These percentages have also changed since 2008 when a 54% majority favored stricter laws relating to the control of hand guns.

• Most Republicans and Americans who own guns favor less strict laws controlling guns and hand-guns. Conversely, most Democrats and those who do not own guns favor stricter control of guns and hand guns.

• A third of adults (32%) acknowledge that they have a gun at home today, translating into approximately 42 million households (based on about 130 million households).

• Among those who have a gun at home: Three-quarters (74%) have a rifle or shot-gun; Nearly 7 in 10 (68%) have a hand-gun; Almost 1 in 5 (17%) have a semi-automatic weapon; and, Nearly 1 in 10 (8%) have another type of gun.

• Large majorities of U.S. adults think that Americans should be allowed to have rifles or shotguns (80%) and hand-guns (74%). Fewer, but still substantial numbers, say unconcealed (or "open carry") weapons (50%) and concealed weapons (45%) should be allowed. Significant minorities also think that Americans should be permitted to have an unlimited number of guns (38%) and semi-automatic weapons (30%).

• Not surprisingly, gun owners are much more likely to think Americans should be allowed to have guns. For example, nine out of ten gun owners think people should be allowed to have rifles (91%) or hand-guns (90%). Two-thirds think that "open carry" weapons should be allowed.

• By 43% to 13%, a three to one plurality believes that the Second Amendment supports an individual’s right to bear arms, rather than a state’s right to form a militia.  Interestingly, three in ten (31%) feel the Amendment supports both, and 8% say the Amendment supports neither.

• By political party affiliation, Republicans, by 53% to 6%, believe the Second Amendment supports individuals’ right to bear arms. Democrats also agree, though by a closer 38% to 19% margin.

• Among gun owners, a majority (51%) feels the amendment supports an individual’s right to bear arms and only 7% do not feel this way.