A majority of New Jersey voters say they are concerned about increasing gun violence and believe that tightening gun control laws is more important than protecting the right to own a weapon, according to a statewide poll released Tuesday.
The Rutgers-Eagleton Poll of 900 voters conducted Aug. 23-25 before and after the Empire State Building shootout that killed two people and wounded nine, found that 66 percent of those questioned said they are "very concerned" about gun violence, the
Newark Star-Ledger reported.
When asked about gun control efforts, 65 percent said gun control efforts are more important than protecting the individual's constitutional right to own a firearm. At the same time, 47 percent of those surveyed said they favor enacting tougher gun control laws to help prevent violence.
Conservative activist Steve Lonegan complained the poll was flawed, and said questions asking about an individual's own safety are "conspicuously absent."
"They never ask the most important question. Should you have the right to own a gun to protect your life and property?" Lonegan said. "The answer to which, is going to be 99 percent yes."
But Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a noted gun control advocate, said the poll shows voters are tired of gun violence and support “common-sense” gun laws.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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