A majority of Virginia residents want an armed police officer posted in all schools, a new poll conducted by
Quinnipiac University reveals.
Some 66 percent of Virginia voters said they favored pistol-packing cops patrolling schools throughout the state, while only 29 percent opposed the idea.
Politico reports the finding is at odds with national sentiment — with a Public Policy Polling poll released Wednesday revealing that 50 percent of American voters are against armed guards in schools, with only 41 percent for them.
Quinnipiac found Virginia voters also favor stronger regulations on gun sales.
An overwhelming 92 percent support background checks for people who buy firearms at gun shows, with only 7 percent opposed to it.
In addition, some 60 percent favor the limiting of gun purchases to one per month. Only 26 percent are against it.
Overall, a majority of Virginians do agree with the concept of guns being used for protection. Some 50 percent say gun ownership helps protect people from crime, while 41 percent believe it puts people at risk.
Gun control laws in Virginia should be stricter, 49 percent of registered voters say, while 6 percent say less strict and 42 percent feel laws should remain the same.
"There has been a small increase in the number favoring tougher gun control, but it is not large,’’ said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac’s Polling Institute.
“Moreover, the idea of stationing armed police in public schools, which many nationally have ridiculed, is favored by two out of three Virginians.’’
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