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Public opinion polling on gun policy
J S Vernick1, S P Teret, K A Howard
1Injury Prevention Center, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore.
Health Affairs (Project Hope)
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Public opinion polls show strong support for most gun-control policies, despite differing views on Second Amendment individual rights. Legislators should consider constituent views on firearm regulations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Political Science
- Law
Background:
- Gun violence remains a significant national epidemic.
- Legislators require data on constituent support for policy options.
- Public opinion polls are key indicators of public sentiment on gun policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review public opinion polls on gun policy in the United States since 1987.
- To identify public support levels for various gun-control interventions.
- To examine public perception of Second Amendment rights related to firearms.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of public opinion polls conducted since 1987.
- Analysis of survey data on attitudes towards gun control and firearm regulations.
- Comparison of public opinion with Supreme Court rulings on the Second Amendment.
Main Results:
- Strong public support exists for most investigated gun-control options.
- Public support for interventions targeting firearm design and manufacture remains under-investigated.
- A significant portion of the public believes the Second Amendment protects a broad individual right to bear arms, contrary to some legal interpretations.
Conclusions:
- Public opinion generally favors stricter gun control measures, with notable exceptions in specific areas like firearm design.
- There is a discernible gap between public interpretation of Second Amendment rights and current legal precedents.
- Understanding public sentiment is crucial for informing effective gun violence prevention strategies and policy development.