While the news may come as a disappointment to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and anti-gun politicians deciding on their next campaign platform, a recent poll from one of the country’s most-respected public-opinion firms shows them solidly in the country’s minority.
The results of Gallup’s annual Crime Poll, released Oct. 20, indicated a majority of Americans believe that increasing the number of law-abiding citizens who carry concealed handguns for personal and family protection makes the country a safer place for all Americans.
The poll asked: “Suppose more Americans were allowed to carry concealed weapons if they passed a criminal background check and training course. If more Americans carried concealed weapons, would the United States be safer or less safe?”
A total of 56 percent of the respondents indicated they believe if more Americans carried concealed weapons after passing a criminal background check and training course, the country would be safer, reported Frank Newport, director of the Gallup Poll.
Those in the majority included 82 percent of Republicans, 59 percent of independents and 31 percent of Democrats — along with 74 percent of gun owners, 62 percent of men and 50 percent of women.
Interestingly, the age group with the highest percentage of those believing in concealed carry was the youngest demographic. A total of 66 percent of those in the 18 to 29 age group believed carrying concealed handgun makes the country safer.
The poll was taken Oct. 7-11 and surveyed 1,015 adults by phone across the U.S. It has a margin of error of 4 percent.
“Previous research shows that three in four Americans are opposed to banning handguns, and Americans in the past have overwhelmingly interpreted the Second Amendment as giving Americans the rights to own guns. All of this research supports the conclusion that Americans believe they should be allowed to own and carry guns, but with more stringent background checks. Americans are inclined to believe that carrying properly permitted guns could make the country safer,” Newport wrote in his analysis.
