March 02, 2011

Once again, a survey of Arizonans is showing strong support for more restrictive gun laws. This is not particularly surprising anymore — it's been reflected year after year in polls, as I reported on this blog last month. What's surprising is that the state Legislature's actions continue to run counter to public opinion on this issue.

The latest poll is an interesting one — see the attached packet of slides for more info. It was commissioned by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, obviously a group with a point of view on the issue, but it was carried out by five polling firms, three Democratic-leaning ones and two Republican-leaning firms.

They surveyed 600 adults in each of five states — Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio and Virginia. In Arizona, the pollster was American Viewpoint, a Republican-leaning firm.

In Arizona, 47 percent of those polled said they live in a household where guns are owned. Of those surveyed, 49 percent said they favor stricter gun laws. Forty-two percent said  they should remain the same, and 5 percent said the laws should be less strict.

Of those living in gun-owning Arizona households, 56 percent said they want gun laws to stay the same, and 35 percent said they want stricter gun laws. Eight percent favored more lenient gun laws.

Here's the result that surprised me the most. When Arizonans were asked whether they favor 11 specific gun restrictions, a majority favored every one of them. The greatest support was for a requirement that lost or stolen guns be reported — 92 percent of respondents favored that. The lowest support was for banning the sale of high-capacity magazines. Still, 51 percent of those responding favored this proposal.

The specific question that interested me the most was whether respondents favored requiring gun owners to register their guns. Sixty-two percent of the respondents favored this.

In all five states, majorities oppose current proposals to ease gun laws. In Arizona, for example, 69 percent oppose the idea of permitting guns on college campuses, a proposal working its way through the Legislature now.

As I explained in the earlier item, it appears the reason the Legislature continues to pursue laws easing gun restrictions despite public opposition is that there's a passion gap on the issue of gun rights and gun control. Those who favor expansive gun rights are passionate and mobilized. Those who favor gun control are not.