Coloradans are still against tougher gun control laws, despite the deaths of 12 people two months ago in the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shootings, according to a new poll of state residents.
When asked which more important — either protecting the rights of gun ownership or more strict controls on ownership — 56 percent said it was more important to protect the right to own, the
Denver Post reported Monday.
Thirty-nine percent came down on the side of tougher gun control laws.
According to the telephone poll of 615 likely voters taken Sept. 9-12 for the Post, men were more likely to defend gun ownership by a margin of 62 percent to 32 percent.
Women in Colorado, the poll found, were more evenly divided on the issue, with 49 percent saying the right to own was more important while 46 percent said stricter gun control laws were more important.
When asked whether tougher laws or tougher enforcement of existing laws was "the best way to reduce gun violence," 64 percent said they believed enforcement was the key while 27 percent said stronger gun control laws would help curb violence.
According to the Post, the findings in Colorado were "similar to other, national polls that have show Americans have softened their support for stricter gun controls in recent years, despite mass shootings."
The survey noted as well a big difference in how Republicans and Democrats view the issue of gun ownership.
For example, 79 percent of those who identified themselves as Republicans said they believe protecting the right to own weapons is more important than stronger controls, while only 29 percent of Democrats agreed with that view.
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