Review of Roanoke College Poll results related to gun control
July 09, 2019
The special session of the Virginia Assembly convening on July 9 was called by Governor Ralph Northam to address several issues related to gun violence. As the session begins, this is an opportune time to review polling on the general issue of firearm regulation conducted by The Roanoke College Poll over the past several years.
Opinion has been fairly consistent on most firearm-related issues over time for those questions for which we have multiple data points. On the generic question balancing gun owner rights and gun control, there appears to be a slight shift in the past two years in favor of gun control.
Public opinion favors many of the restrictions being proposed by Gov. Northam, though there are anticipated differences between those who own guns and those who do not. At the same time, most Virginians do not blame weak gun laws for shootings, and they are ambivalent at best regarding the efficacy of stricter gun laws. Note: although some of these results date from as early as 2013, it is likely that results would be similar today because opinion on those questions for which we have longitudinal data has remained consistent. This is an issue where few people seem to change their minds. If these questions followed the trend for the generic question, then there may have been a shift of a few points in favor of stricter laws over those years. It is unlikely that opinion shifted drastically in either direction.
We hope that these results will aid both elected officials and those who try to explain these issues to the public. We have reported here all of the questions asked in the Roanoke College Poll from the past several years that are relevant to the issues being raised in the special session. We did not cherry-pick any questions or responses from any particular year. We hope that others will follow our lead.
Questions
Finally, which do you think is more important - to protect the right of Americans to own guns, OR to control gun ownership?
Protect owners Control guns Unsure/Refused
Feb. 2019 44% 47% 9%
Aug. 2018 44% 48% 8%
May 2018 46% 44% 9%
Jan. 2016 50% 41% 9%
Jan. 2015 50% 42% 7%
Regardless of your vote intention, please tell me if you think Ed Gillespie or Ralph Northam would do a better job as governor on the following issues. Issues related to guns?
Gillespie Northam Unsure/Refused
Nov. 2017 45% 39% 16%
The election was tied in this poll
Oct. 2017 43% 43% 15%
Northam led by 6 points in this poll
Regardless of your vote intention, please tell me if you think Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would do a better job as president on the following issues. Issues related to guns?
Clinton Trump Unsure/Refused
Sept. 2016 43% 48% 10%
Clinton led by 7 points in this poll
Aug. 2016 47% 43% 11%
Clinton led by 16 points in this poll
February 2016
As you may know, Attorney General Mark Herring recently announced that Virginia would no longer recognize concealed handgun carry permits from states, including several states that border Virginia, arguing that those states standards are not as strict as those required to obtain a permit in Virginia. Many of those states will now not recognize permits issued by Virginia. Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Herring’s decision?
Agree 42%
Disagree 49%
Unsure 8%
Refused 1%
Governor McAuliffe recently issued an Executive Order banning firearms from state-owned executive buildings. Do you agree or disagree with Mr. McAuliffe’s decision?
Agree 59%
Disagree 34%
Unsure 6%
Refused 1%
In general, do you favor or oppose the following regulations on firearms? Requiring background checks for all firearms sales at gun shows including those guns sold by private citizens?
Favor Oppose Unsure Refused
Jan. 2016 86% 11% 2% 1%
Jan. 2015 88% 8% 3% 1%
Jan. 2014 85% 14% 1% 1%
July 2013 84% 11% 2% 3%
April 2013 84% 11% 3% 2%
Jan. 2013 86% 10% 3% 2%
Requiring background checks for all firearms sales including those between two private citizens?
Favor Oppose Unsure Refused
Jan. 2016 75% 21% 3% 1%
Jan. 2015 75% 17% 6% 2%
Jan. 2014 75% 23% 1% 0%
July 2013 69% 23% 5% 3%
April 2013 73% 22% 3% 2%
Jan. 2013 75% 19% 4% 2%
The Roanoke College Poll is funded by Roanoke College as a public service.
January 2013 (gun control was a major focus of this poll)
Now I have several questions related to guns and gun violence. Which do you think is more likely to reduce gun violence--better enforcement of existing gun laws or tougher gun laws?
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Better enforcement 53% 66% 46%
Tougher laws 38% 24% 46%
Unsure /Refused 10% 10% 8%
Which of the following do you think is MOST responsible for mass shootings like those in Newtown , CT and Virginia Tech--weak gun laws, poor enforcement of gun laws, violent media such as movies and video games, poor policies to deal with mental illness, or that we simply cannot stop those who want to kill others? You may choose up to two. [PERCENTS ADD TO OVER 100]
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Weak gun laws 21% 16% 24%
Poor enforcement
of laws 26% 24% 26%
Violent media 28% 26% 29%
Mental illness 56% 57% 54%
Can’t stop killers 38% 45% 33%
Unsure/Refused 7% 8% 7%
One proposal to make schools safer is to have armed police or security guards at each school. Do you favor or oppose this idea?
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 62% 69% 58%
Oppose 30% 25% 34%
Unsure/Refused 8% 6% 9%
Another idea is to allow those teachers and administrators who are trained and willing to carry firearms in schools. Do you favor or oppose this idea?
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 35% 46% 29%
Oppose 58% 49% 65%
Unsure/Refused 6% 5% 6%
Do you think it is more likely that a gun in the possession of a law-abiding citizen would be used for self-defense purposes or that it would somehow accidentally injure or kill another person?
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Self-defense 59% 77% 51%
Accidental shooting 26% 14% 32%
Unsure/Refused 15% 9% 17%
In general, do you favor or oppose the following regulations on firearms:
Requiring background checks for all firearms sales at gun shows including those guns sold by private citizens?
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 86% 84% 89%
Oppose 10% 12% 7%
Unsure/Refused 5% 8% 4%
Requiring background checks for all firearms sales including those between two private citizens?
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 75% 65% 84%
Oppose 19% 27% 12%
Unsure/Refused 6% 8% 4%
Registration of all guns with government.
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 61% 46% 71%
Oppose 34% 50% 23%
Unsure/Refused 6% 5% 6%
Requiring all gun owners to get a license from the government.
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 59% 37% 73%
Oppose 35% 59% 21%
Unsure/Refused 6% 4% 7%
Do you think that stricter gun control laws would make you personally more safe, less safe, or would they make no difference?
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
More safe 34% 21% 43%
Less safe 12% 22% 5%
No difference 50% 56% 48%
Unsure/Refused 4% 2% 4%
Do you favor or oppose banning the sale of the following:
Semi-automatic rifles
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 48% 33% 58%
Oppose 46% 62% 35%
Unsure/Refused 7% 5% 7%
Semi-automatic shotguns
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 41% 22% 54%
Oppose 50% 73% 38%
Unsure/Refused 8% 5% 9%
Assault rifles
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 58% 46% 66%
Oppose 35% 48% 28%
Unsure/Refused 7% 6% 7%
Semi-automatic handguns
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 42% 25% 54%
Oppose 50% 72% 38%
Unsure/Refused 8% 3% 9%
All guns
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 16% 6% 21%
Oppose 78% 91% 73%
Unsure/Refused 7% 4% 6%
Magazines that hold more than 10 bullets
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Favor 53% 42% 61%
Oppose 40% 53% 32%
Unsure/Refused 7% 5% 7%
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
All Gun owners Non-gun owners
Agree 44% 59% 36%
Disagree 49% 36% 56%
Unsure/Refused 8% 5% 7%
For more about the Institute for Public Opinion Research, click here.
CONTACT: Dr. Harry L. Wilson, Director, IPOR
(540) 375-2415 (Office)
wilson@roanoke.edu