Poll results: Gun rights and gun violence

About the Poll

Geography Surveyed: North Carolina
Data Collected: 01/09/2013 - 01/12/2013

Sponsor: WRAL-TV Raleigh

SurveyUSA interviewed 500 North Carolina adults 01/09/13 through 01/12/13 exclusively for WRAL-TV in Raleigh. This research was conducted using blended sample, mixed mode. Respondents reachable on a home telephone (69% of adults) were interviewed on their home phone in the recorded voice of a professional announcer. Respondents not reachable on a home phone (31% of adults) were shown a questionnaire on their smartphone, tablet or other electronic device.

Respondent households were selected at random, using Random Digit Dialed (RDD) sample provided by Survey Sampling, of Fairfield, Conn. All respondents heard the questions asked identically. Where necessary, respondents were weighted using the most recent US Census estimates for age, gender, ethnic origin and region, to align the sample to the population. In theory, one can say with 95% certainty that the results would not vary by more than the stated margin of sampling error, in one direction or the other, had the entire universe of respondents with home telephones been interviewed with complete accuracy. Research methodology, questionnaire design and fieldwork for this survey were completed by SurveyUSA of Clifton, NJ. 

Poll: NC supports background checks, concerned about mental health

Congressional responses on gun policy

Questions and Answers

1. What do you think is more important -- to protect the right of Americans to own guns, or to control gun ownership?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

270 (54%) Right To Own
192 (38%) Control Ownership
38 (8%) Not Sure

Guns poll demographic breakdown

2. Does widespread gun ownership protect law abiding citizens from crime? Or make society more dangerous?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.4%)

289 (58%) Protects Citizens
168 (34%) Makes Society Dangerous
43 (9%) Not Sure

3. What do you think is the best way to reduce gun violence in this country: by passing stricter gun control laws, or by stricter enforcement of existing laws?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.3%)

161 (32%) Passing Stricter Laws
313 (63%) Stricter Enforcement Of Existing
26 (5%) Not Sure

4. Are federal laws on gun ownership too strict? Not strict enough? Or just about right?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

50 (10%) Too Strict
252 (50%) Not Strict Enough
165 (33%) Just About Right
33 (7%) Not Sure

5. Are North Carolina laws on gun ownership too strict? Not strict enough? Or just about right?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

40 (8%) Too Strict
230 (46%) Not Strict Enough
187 (37%) Just About Right
44 (9%) Not Sure

6. Would you support? ... or oppose? ... a law requiring a nationwide ban on semi-automatic weapons, which automatically load the next bullet after a shot is fired?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

210 (42%) Support
224 (45%) Oppose
66 (13%) Not Sure

7. Would you support? ... or oppose? ... a law that limits how much ammunition a gun can hold at once?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.4%)

276 (55%) Support
172 (34%) Oppose
52 (10%) Not Sure

8. Would you support ... or oppose ... a law that limits how much ammunition can be purchased at one time?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

271 (54%) Support
184 (37%) Oppose
45 (9%) Not Sure

9. Are laws on buying guns at gun shows too strict? Not strict enough? Or just about right?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.4%)

29 (6%) Too Strict
281 (56%) Not Strict Enough
146 (29%) Just About Right
45 (9%) Not Sure

10. Should criminal background checks be required for every person who wants to purchase a firearm? Or not?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 2.3%)

463 (93%) Should
27 (5%) Should Not
9 (2%) Not Sure

11. Should the general public be able to buy and wear tactical gear such as the armor worn by SWAT team members? Or not?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

171 (34%) Should
235 (47%) Should Not
94 (19%) Not Sure

12. Thinking for a moment about the people who cause mass shootings: are they so mentally ill that they would do something similar no matter what? Or do you think violence in today's society plays a part in their actions?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

228 (46%) Would Do Something Similar
241 (48%) Society Plays a Part
31 (6%) Not Sure

13. Is the level of violence in entertainment, including video games, a major cause of mass shootings? A minor cause? Or not a cause of mass shootings?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

153 (31%) Major Cause
195 (39%) Minor Cause
125 (25%) Not a Cause
27 (5%) Not Sure

14. If the government were able to require a reduced amount of violence in entertainment, would it reduce the incidence of mass shootings a lot? A little? Or not at all?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

100 (20%) A Lot
197 (39%) A Little
179 (36%) Not At All
23 (5%) Not Sure

15. Do you think enough services are being offered to those with mental health problems in North Carolina? Or could the state be doing more?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.5%)

36 (7%) Enough
403 (81%) Could Do More
60 (12%) Not Sure

16. Are you willing to pay more in taxes for increased government spending on mental health?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

219 (44%) Yes
201 (40%) No
80 (16%) Not Sure

17. Are mass shootings at schools avoidable or unavoidable?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.4%)

304 (61%) Avoidable
129 (26%) Unavoidable
67 (13%) Not Sure

18. Which one thing would be most effective in reducing school shootings? Making access to guns more difficult? Better mental health care? Better security in schools? Working to reduce bullying in schools? Restricting violence in the entertainment industry? Or something else?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

88 (18%) Access To Guns More Difficult
81 (16%) Better Mental Health Care
207 (41%) Better Security
49 (10%) Reduce Bullying
24 (5%) Restricting Violence
41 (8%) Other
11 (2%) Not Sure

19. Do you think schools are doing enough to properly identify troubled students who may act violently? Or could schools be doing more? 

(Question asked of 500 who identified themselves as parents; Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 3.7%)

57 (11%) Doing Enough
387 (77%) Could Be Doing More
56 (11%) Not Sure

20. Do you think teachers who are licensed to carry a handgun should? or should not? be allowed to carry their gun while in school?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

207 (41%) Should
249 (50%) Should Not
43 (9%) Not Sure

21. Are you willing to pay more in taxes to have armed guards at schools?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

252 (50%) Yes
176 (35%) No
72 (14%) Not Sure

22. Is your impression of the National Rifle Association favorable? Unfavorable? Neutral? Or do you have no opinion?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

186 (37%) Favorable
118 (24%) Unfavorable
129 (26%) Neutral
68 (14%) No Opinion

23. Does a candidate's position on guns have a major impact on your vote? A minor impact? Or no impact at all?

(Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5%)

This story is part of WRAL's prime time special "Soft Targets, Hard Choices." We welcome your comments and questions. Send email to hardchoices@wral.com or use #hardchoices on Twitter.