Survey Overview and Demographic Analysis
Perceived leniency of state/national gun laws
Respondents were asked if “the national laws which regulate the manufacture, sale and possession of firearms in this country ... are too strict, too lenient, or about right to protect the public?”:
|
much too strict |
5% |
11% Total TOO STRICT |
|
|
|
somewhat too strict |
6 |
|
|
|
|
about right |
38 |
|
|
|
|
somewhat too lenient |
23 |
47% Total TOO LENIENT |
||
|
much too lenient |
24 |
|
|
|
|
undecided |
4 |
|
|
|
They were then asked, “How about the firearm laws in Michigan — are they too strict, too lenient, or about right to protect the public?”:
|
much too strict |
5% |
9% Total TOO STRICT |
|
|
|
somewhat too strict |
4 |
|
|
|
|
about right |
41 |
|
|
|
|
somewhat too lenient |
20 |
41% Total TOO LENIENT |
||
|
much too lenient |
21 |
|
|
|
|
undecided |
9 |
|
|
|
Respondents in the following groups said “too strict” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
NRA member/respondent (37%); Republican men, gun owner/respondent (19%); income $75-100,000, NRA member/other in households (18%); age 56-64 years, younger men, older men, all men (15%); Grand Rapids media market, outer Wayne Co. (15%); all Republicans, Wayne Co. (13%).
In the following groups, respondents said “about right” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
Republican men (65%); NRA member/other in households (59%); Traverse City media market, all Republicans (56%); gun owner/more than one in household (54%); older men, western Michigan, northern Michigan (52%); gun owner/respondent, gun owner/other in household (51%); Grand Rapids media market, Lansing media market, all men (50%); “Outstate”, younger men, income $60-75,000, Republican women (48%); central Michigan, Flint/Saginaw media market (47%); high school/less education, Independent men, Catholics (46%); age 65-over years, older without college education, age 18-29 years (45%).
Respondents in the following groups said “too lenient” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
Democratic women (76%); Afr.-Amer. respondents (64%); Detroit (62%); somewhat certain/likely vote in general election (60%); all Democrats, Democratic men, Oakland Co. (56%); Wayne Co. (55%); outer Detroit metro, Wayne/Oakland/Macomb Cos. (54%); Detroit media market (53%); younger women (52%); income $30-45,000 (51%); Macomb Co., no gun owner in household (50%); older women, Independent women, outer Wayne Co., all women (49%); “other/refused” religion, “GI” generation [b. 1924 - prior], age 36-40 years (48%); income over $100,000, union member/other in household, younger with college education (47%); income $45-60,000 (46%); all Independents (45%).
Favor/oppose mandatory handgun registration:
— 1st asking
When asked if they would favor or oppose a law to require the mandatory registration of all handguns, respondents answered:
|
* strongly favor |
56% |
70% Total FAVOR |
|
* somewhat favor |
14 |
|
|
** somewhat oppose |
6 |
25% Total OPPOSE |
|
** strongly oppose |
19 |
|
|
undecided |
5 |
|
In the following groups, respondents said “favor” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
Afr.-Amer. respondents (84%); all Democrats, Democratic women (83%); older women (82%); income $30-45,000, Traverse City media market, Independent women, somewhat certain/likely vote in general election (81%); Detroit (79%); all women (78%); Lansing media market, Wayne Co., no gun owner in household (77%); younger with college education (76%); Democratic men, outer Wayne Co. (76%); income under $30,000, younger women, “other/refused” religion, “GI” generation [b. 1924 - prior] (75%).
Respondents in the following groups said “oppose” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
NRA member/respondent (55%); Republican men (47%); NRA member/other in households (46%); all Republicans (39%); northern Michigan (37%); Macomb Co. (36%); gun owner/respondent (35%); gun owner/more than one in household, all men (34%); younger men (33%); income $60-75,000, income $75-100,000, income over $100,000 (31%); Flint/Saginaw media market, Catholics, age 36-40 years (30%); age 56-64 years, Independent men, with children in home, Republican women (29%).
— follow-up 2nd asking among “favor” and “oppose”
* Those who said “favor” were then told “This would mean that millions of law-abiding citizens who have owned handguns for years would have to report their weapons to the government” and asked again if they would favor or oppose a law to require the mandatory registration of all handguns:
|
strongly favor |
71% |
85% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
14 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
8 |
13% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
5 |
|
|
undecided |
2 |
|
— follow-up 2nd asking among “oppose”
** Those who said “oppose” on the first asking (25 percent of respondents) were told, “A number of law enforcement organizations favor the mandatory registration of handguns to help them trace guns used in crimes and to restrict the illegal ownership and criminal misuse of handguns” and asked again if they would favor or oppose a law to require the mandatory registration of all handguns:
|
strongly favor |
9% |
15% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
6 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
17 |
76% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
59 |
|
|
undecided |
9 |
|
Preferred approach to reduce gun related violence
All respondents were asked, “Which would do more to reduce gun related violence — passing stronger gun control laws or providing stricter enforcement of existing laws?”:
|
passing stronger gun control laws |
15% |
|
|
providing stricter enforcement of existing laws |
65 |
|
|
both |
11 |
(volunteered) |
|
neither |
5 |
(volunteered) |
|
undecided |
4 |
|
Favor/oppose required tamper-resistant serial numbers
A statement was read:
Law enforcement officials can trace a handgun back to its owner by the serial number. Some criminals and gun traffickers file off serial numbers to avoid this. Serial numbers can be made tamper resistant, but this could increase the cost of the gun somewhat.
Respondents were then asked if they would favor or oppose a law requiring handgun manufacturers to make serial numbers tamper resistant:
|
strongly favor |
70% |
87% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
17 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
4 |
8% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
4 |
|
|
undecided |
5 |
|
Favor/oppose handgun ban
When respondents were asked if they would favor or oppose a law to totally ban the manufacture, sale, purchase or possession of handguns, they answered:
|
strongly favor |
11% |
16% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
5 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
20 |
79% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
59 |
|
|
undecided |
5 |
|
Favor/oppose handgun ban with law enforcement exceptions
They were then asked, “Would you favor or oppose a law that would ban the purchase and possession of handguns by individual citizens, but allow handgun possession by law enforcement officials or other authorized personnel?”:
|
strongly favor |
15% |
26% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
11 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
15 |
69% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
54 |
|
|
undecided |
4 |
|
Preference for handgun sale regulation
Respondents were asked which of a series of proposals to regulate the sale of handguns comes closer to their view:
Conduct a background check on a handgun buyer’s criminal record and require a 5-day wait to allow gun buyers to have a cooling off period before the gun could be purchased.
Conduct an instant background check on a handgun buyer’s criminal record and not require any waiting period.
Neither check on a handgun buyer’s criminal record nor have a waiting period before purchasing a handgun.
|
background check/require a 5-day wait |
79% |
|
instant background check/no waiting period. |
17 |
|
neither check nor waiting period |
2 |
|
undecided |
2 |
Favor/oppose ammunition control
When asked if they would favor or oppose a law that would make handgun ammunition subject to the same restrictions and background checks as the sale of handguns, respondents answered:
|
strongly favor |
43% |
59% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
16 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
12 |
34% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
22 |
|
|
undecided |
7 |
|
Respondents in the following groups said “favor” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
“GI” generation [b. 1924 - prior] (81%); Democratic women, Afr.-Amer. respondents (76%); no gun owner in household (72%); older women (71%); income over $100,000 (70%); all Democrats, Independent women, all women (68%); outer Wayne Co., gun owner/more than one in household (67%); younger women, outer Detroit metro (66%); Oakland Co., age 41-49 years (65%); younger with college education, “other/refused” religion (64%); Detroit media market, income under $30,000 (63%).
In the following groups, respondents said “oppose” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
Republican women (58%); gun owner/respondent (56%); NRA member/respondent (54%); income $60-75,000 (52%); younger men, gun owner/other in household (48%); age 30-35 years (47%); income $75-100,000, all men (46%); older men (45%); union member/other in household, Independent men (42%); Detroit, Flint/Saginaw media market, all Republicans, NRA member/other in households (41%); Grand Rapids media market, younger without college education, central Michigan, Catholics (40%); income $45-60,000 (39%); “X” generation [b. 1960-81], with children in home, age 36-40 years (38%).
Favor/oppose required information on handgun re-sale
A statement was read to all respondents:
In Michigan, obtaining a handgun permit requires a criminal background check before it can be issued. The law also requires that a person with a permit who purchases a handgun, return to the law enforcement or state agency that granted the permit in order to get a safety inspection of the gun.
However, many gun owners fail to submit to the required safety check, and the agency that provided the permit has no way of knowing whether or not a handgun was actually purchased with that permit, if a gun was purchased but later sold, or if it has changed hands in some other way.
They were then asked if they would favor or oppose a law that requires a handgun owner to inform the agency that granted him or her a permit if the gun had been sold and to whom, with “verification that the person who purchased the gun had a permit to purchase the gun, thereby giving law enforcement agencies a way to track ownership?”:
|
strongly favor |
56% |
77% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
21 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
7 |
17% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
10 |
|
|
undecided |
6 |
|
Favor/oppose private/show gun sales
Respondents were asked, “(because) of the problems that occur with the private sale of guns, and the difficulty keeping track of such weapons,” if they would favor or oppose legislation that would ban the private sale of guns between individuals or through private gun shows, and instead would require individuals to sell guns through licensed gun dealers:
|
strongly favor |
39% |
56% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
17 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
12 |
35% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
23 |
|
|
undecided |
9 |
|
Respondents in the following groups said “favor” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
“GI” generation [b. 1924 - prior] (77%): Macomb Co. (76%); Democratic women (72%); older women (70%); outer Detroit metro (69%); Oakland Co. (68%); all Democrats (67%); age 65-over years, Independent women, Afr.-Amer. respondents (66%); Wayne/Oakland/Macomb Cos., all women (65%); no gun owner in household (64%); Detroit media market, income over $100,000, union member/respondent, age 36-40 years (62%); income $30-45,000, age 18-29 years (61%).
In the following groups, respondents said “oppose” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
NRA member/other in households (62%); NRA member/respondent (59%); Republican men (54%); gun owner/respondent (51%); northern Michigan (50%); Grand Rapids media market (48%); older men (47%); younger men, all men (46%); income $75-100,000, younger without college education, Independent men (45%); all Republicans (44%); somewhat certain/likely vote in general election, gun owner/other in household (43%); income $60-75,000, all Independents, western Michigan, age 30-35 years (42%); age 41-49 years (41%); “Outstate”, Detroit, Lansing media market, central Michigan, with children in home (39%); high school/less education (38%).
Favor/oppose ban on all high-capacity ammunition magazines
Respondents were told, “In 1994, Congress banned the manufacture and sale of new, high-capacity magazines or clips that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. People can still buy similar magazines, but only if they were manufactured before the ban.”
They were then asked if they would favor or oppose a law that would ban all high-capacity ammunition magazines, including the ones manufactured before the ban on new magazines passed in 1994:
|
strongly favor |
57% |
64% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
12 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
12 |
29% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
17 |
|
|
undecided |
7 |
|
Respondents in the following groups said “favor” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
gun owner/more than one in household (80%); older with college education (79%); older women (77%); outer Detroit metro (75%); income over $100,000, Oakland Co., NRA member/other in households (74%); age 50-55 years, Macomb Co., Independent women, age 41-49 years (73%); age 56-64 years (72%); “Boom” generation [b. 1944-60], no gun owner in household (71%); all Democrats, “GI” generation [b. 1924 - prior] (70%); Detroit media market, Lansing media market, post-high school/technical education, Republican women, all women, “Silent” generation [b. 1925-43] (69%); college education (68%).
In the following groups, respondents said “oppose” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
gun owner/respondent (45%); Republican men (44%); Detroit, age 18-29 years (43%); younger men (41%); “X” generation [b. 1960-81], income $75-100,000, NRA member/respondent (40%); age 30-35 years (39%); age 36-40 years (38%); Grand Rapids media market, Afr.-Amer. respondents, northern Michigan (37%); younger without college education (36%); income $60-75,000, high school/less education, all Republicans, all men (35%); union member/respondent, union member/other in household, with children in home, western Michigan (34%); all Independents (31%).
Favor/oppose safety/quality standard for US and foreign handguns:
— 1st asking
A statement was read:
Handguns made in foreign countries and imported into the United States have to meet certain federal government safety and quality standards. Under current law, handguns made in the United States do not have to meet any manufacturing or safety standards.
and respondents were asked if they would favor or oppose a law that would require all handguns, including ones made in the United States and other countries, to meet the same safety and quality standards:
|
* strongly favor |
67% |
83% Total FAVOR |
|
* somewhat favor |
16 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
5 |
12% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
7 |
|
|
undecided |
5 |
|
— 2nd asking follow-up among “favor”
* Those who said “favor” on the 1st asking were asked if they would still favor the law if the requirement for handguns to meet these safety and quality standards made American made handguns more expensive “or would you oppose it because of the cost?”:
|
strongly favor |
70% |
92% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
22 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
3 |
5% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
2 |
|
|
undecided |
3 |
|
Favor/oppose required magazine disconnect devices on new pistols
All respondents heard a statement:
After an ammunition clip or magazine is removed from a pistol, one bullet may remain in the chamber of the pistol, which can still be fired. A magazine disconnect is a safety device that can be built into pistols that prevents that bullet from being fired after the magazine or clip is removed.
Supporters of magazine disconnect devices see them as a way of preventing accidental deaths at a reasonable cost. Opponents say these devices are expensive and unreliable.
These respondents were then asked if they would favor or oppose a law that required new pistols to come equipped with magazine disconnect devices:
|
strongly favor |
54% |
71% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
17 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
6 |
18% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
12 |
|
|
undecided |
11 |
|
Favor/oppose child access prevention law
All respondents were told, “Some states have child access prevention laws that subject adults to criminal or civil penalties if they fail to store their firearms in a way that prevents access by children, who then use the firearm where a death or injury results.” They were then asked if they would favor or oppose a similar child access prevention law in Michigan:
|
strongly favor |
65% |
78% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
13 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
6 |
15% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
9 |
|
|
undecided |
7 |
|
Favor/oppose law to require handgun load indicator device
A statement was read:
A load indicator is a device in some handguns that shows if the handgun contains ammunition.
Some people favor requiring load indicators, believing that they will prevent some accidental deaths caused by people who don’t know their handgun is loaded. Others oppose load indicators because they believe they are expensive and unreliable.
Respondents were then asked if they would favor or oppose legislation requiring that all new handguns come equipped with a load indicator device:
|
strongly favor |
45% |
64% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
19 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
9 |
24% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
15 |
|
|
undecided |
12 |
|
Favor/oppose law to require personalized handgun technology
Another statement was read:
Engineers are now designing handguns that are equipped with devices which can recognize the owner of the gun and not be able to be fired by anyone else. The technology is intended to protect a gun owner if an attacker tries to take his or her gun away, or to make the gun inoperable if it is stolen. Personalized guns are also designed to reduce the risk of a child or teenager shooting themselves or someone else.
However, personalized guns will cost more than other guns and the chances that the gun will not fire when you want it to may be increased.
Respondents were then asked if they would favor or oppose legislation requiring that all new handguns be manufactured with this personalized technology:
|
strongly favor |
36% |
50% Total FAVOR |
|
somewhat favor |
14 |
|
|
somewhat oppose |
19 |
42% Total OPPOSE |
|
strongly oppose |
23 |
|
|
undecided |
8 |
|
Respondents in the following groups said “favor” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
Macomb Co. (74%); Democratic men (65%); Democratic women, Afr.-Amer. respondents (63%); union member/respondent, Traverse City media market (61%); outer Detroit metro (60%); no gun owner in household (59%); income over $100,000, all Democrats (58%); Wayne/Oakland/Macomb Cos., older women, younger with college education, Oakland Co., all Independents, Independent women (57%); Detroit media market, “GI” generation [b. 1924 - prior] (56%); younger women, income $30-45,000, income $45-60,000, all women, age 36-40 years (55%); income under $30,000, college education (54%).
In the following groups, respondents said “oppose” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
Republican men (68%); NRA member/respondent (63%); income $60-75,000 (56%); gun owner/respondent (55%); Flint/Saginaw media market, older men, gun owner/other in household, NRA member/other in households (54%); income $75-100,000 (53%); central Michigan, all Republicans (52%); all men (51%); age 50-55 years, age 56-64 years, younger men, Grand Rapids media market (48%); “Boom” generation [b. 1944-60] (47%); Lansing media market, younger without college education (46%).
Favor/oppose gun law changes
Respondents were read several statements describing other proposals to change gun laws, and asked if they favor or oppose the proposed change:
the mandatory registration of rifles and shotguns
raising the minimum legal age for purchasing a handgun from 18 to 21 years of age
requiring gun manufacturers to design handguns sold in the United States so they cannot be fired by the small hands of a young child
requiring all guns be stored in a locked box or cabinet
requiring that all guns be stored unloaded
that all guns be stored with a high quality trigger lock, which prevents the gun from being fired until the device around the trigger is unlocked and removed
|
Rank order total “favor” |
Favor |
Oppose |
|
||||
|
|
strong |
somewhat |
Total |
strong |
somewhat |
Total |
undec |
|
require handguns not be fired by child |
65% |
15% |
80% |
8% |
8% |
16% |
4% |
|
raising legal age for purchasing a handgun |
61 |
15 |
76 |
11 |
9 |
20 |
4 |
|
require that all guns be stored unloaded |
57 |
15 |
72 |
12 |
10 |
22 |
6 |
|
require all guns be stored with trigger lock |
51 |
20 |
71 |
13 |
10 |
23 |
6 |
|
require all guns stored in locked box |
55 |
15 |
70 |
16 |
9 |
25 |
5 |
|
mandatory registration of rifles/shotguns |
40 |
14 |
54 |
29 |
14 |
43 |
3 |
Respondents in the following groups said “favor mandatory registration of rifles/shotguns” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
younger women (74%); age 18-29 years (73%); Afr.-Amer. respondents (72%); Macomb Co. (71%); Democratic women (70%); outer Detroit metro, younger with college education, all women, age 36-40 years (66%); “X” generation [b. 1960-81] (65%); Independent women, Republican women (63%); all Democrats, gun owner/other in household, no gun owner in household (62%); Detroit media market, income $45-60,000, somewhat certain/likely vote in general election (61%); Wayne/Oakland/Macomb Cos., post-high school/technical education, age 30-35 years (60%); older women, “other/refused” religion (59%); Detroit, income over $100,000, younger without college education, college education, Oakland Co., with children in home (58%).
In the following groups, respondents said “oppose mandatory registration of rifles/shotguns” in percentages significantly higher than the survey average:
NRA member/respondent (77%); Republican men (70%); gun owner/respondent (63%); older men (61%); gun owner/more than one in household, all men (58%); income $75-100,000 (57%); younger men (56%); Grand Rapids media market, all Republicans, NRA member/other in households (53%); Independent men, western Michigan, “Silent” generation [b. 1925-43] (52%); income $60-75,000 (51%); high school/less education (50%); age 56-64 years (49%); Flint/Saginaw media market, union member/other in household, older without college education (48%); age 65-over years, central Michigan, age 41-49 years (47%).
Agree/disagree:
Respondent were asked if they agree or disagree with a series of statements:
The government should do everything it can to keep handguns out of the hands of criminals, even if it means that it will be harder for law-abiding citizens to purchase handguns.
We don’t need more gun laws that will erode more of our right to bear arms, we just need to enforce the laws that we have on the books
If a gun is used during a crime, the sentence for the crime should be significantly longer than it would otherwise be.
The illegal possession of a gun should be treated as a serious crime like a robbery or burglary.
|
Rank order total “agree” |
Agree |
Disagree |
|
||||
|
|
strong |
somewhat |
Total |
strong |
somewhat |
Total |
undec |
|
longer sentences for crimes with guns |
67% |
17% |
84% |
4% |
7% |
11% |
5% |
|
treat illegal gun possession as serious crime |
62 |
19 |
81 |
4 |
9 |
13 |
6 |
|
don’t need more laws/enforce current |
58 |
14 |
72 |
14 |
10 |
24 |
4 |
|
government keep handguns from criminals |
50 |
17 |
67 |
18 |
9 |
27 |
6 |
Assessment of allowable gun purchasers
All respondents were read a list of crimes and told “in most states, people who have been convicted of these crimes can still legally purchase firearms.” They were asked if in each case, people who have been convicted of the crime should or should NOT be able to purchase firearms:
|
able to purchase firearms if convicted of: |
Should be |
Should not |
undec |
|
domestic violence |
13% |
82% |
5% |
|
drunk and disorderly conduct |
29 |
61 |
10 |
|
carrying a concealed weapon without a permit |
15 |
76 |
9 |
|
assault and battery that does not involve a lethal weapon or serious injury |
26 |
63 |
11 |
|
driving under the influence of alcohol |
41 |
49 |
10 |
Household firearm ownership, use
Respondents were asked if they or anyone else in the household owns one or more handguns, rifles, shotguns or other types of firearms:
|
respondent has one or more handguns |
13% |
45% Total HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP |
|
respondent has one or more rifles |
7 |
|
|
respondent has one or more shotguns |
4 |
|
|
someone else has one or more handguns |
4 |
|
|
someone else has one or more rifles |
6 |
|
|
someone else has one or more shotguns |
3 |
|
|
more than one has one or more handguns |
4 |
|
|
more than one has one or more rifles |
3 |
|
|
more than one has one or more shotguns |
1 |
|
|
no one in the household has a gun |
52 |
|
|
undecided |
3 |
|
Those who reported firearm ownership were asked if they or other household members “own guns for sporting and hunting purposes, for personal or home protection, or for both purposes?”:
|
sporting and hunting purposes |
23% |
|
personal or home protection |
5 |
|
both purposes |
13 |
|
undecided |
59 |
NRA membership
When all respondents were asked if they or anyone else in the household is a member of the National Rifle Association (“the NRA”) respondents answered:
|
respondent a member |
4% |
|
someone else a member |
4 |
|
no one in the household is a member |
55 |
|
undecided |
37 |