Fifty-eight percent of American adults believe that "gun ownership does more to increase safety by allowing law-abiding citizens to protect themselves." A poll conducted for NBC News and The Wall Street Journal found that 38 percent disagree and believe that "gun ownership reduces safety by giving too many people access to firearms."[1]
These results represent a generational change. In 1999, a narrow majority (52 percent) believed gun ownership reduced safety.
Nearly nine out of 10 Republicans (89 percent) and two-thirds of independents (65 percent) believe gun ownership increases safety. However, only 28 percent of Democrats share that view.
Earlier Numbers of the Day found that 66 percent of gun owners favor allowing teachers to carry guns and 67 percent of gun owners value guns for protection.
Overall, 42 percent of Americans live in a gun-owning household.
- NBC News, "Poll: 58 percent say gun ownership increases safety," March 23, 2018
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
Scott Rasmussen is founder and president of the Rasmussen Media Group. He is the author of "Mad as Hell: How the Tea Party Movement Is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System," "In Search of Self-Governance," and "The People’s Money: How Voters Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt." Read more reports from Scott Rasmussen — Click Here Now.
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