January 24, 2013 - New Jersey Voters Back Gun Control By Big Margins, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Economy, Taxes Are Biggest Problems In Garden State Word format By wide margins, New Jersey voters favor a broad range of gun-control measures and by a smaller 50 - 38 percent margin say that private gun ownership puts people at risk rather than protects them from crime, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters also support 82 - 16 percent, including 67 - 30 percent among Republicans, raising the Garden State's minimum wage, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. New Jersey voter opinions on gun-control measures are: 58 percent want stricter gun laws in the state, with 8 percent calling for less strict laws and 29 percent saying keep the current laws; Favor 70 - 26 percent a nationwide ban on high-capacity magazines; Favor 69 - 27 percent a nationwide ban on assault weapons; Favor 96 - 3 percent requiring background checks for gun purchases at gun shows; Favor 78 - 20 percent a federal database to track all gun sales; Favor 92 - 5 percent preventing people with mental illness from buying guns; Favor 50 - 44 percent placing armed police in public schools. Among the 322 voters who say there is at least one gun in their household only 30 percent want stricter gun laws, with 23 percent for less strict laws and 46 percent who want to keep laws as they are. These voters are less supportive of other gun measures. "On a series of gun-control questions - background checks for gun buyers, nationwide bans on assault weapons and big bullet magazines - New Jersey gives clear support," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "The support is solid, but a trifle less vigorous, on state gun control laws. A majority says they should be tougher but a sizable plurality says New Jersey law is just about right." "Overwhelmingly, voters would keep weapons out of the hands of the mentally ill," Carroll added. "Armed police in schools? A bare majority thinks it's a good idea." While a 5-1 majority of New Jersey voters support raising the state's minimum wage, which currently is $7.25 per hour, 32 percent want to increase it to $8.25 per hour. Another 45 percent want to increase the minimum wage to more than $8.25 per hour. Voters reject 55 - 40 percent the argument that small businesses will reduce hiring if the minimum wage is increased. "New Jerseyans are in a generous mood when it comes to raising the minimum wage, with overwhelming support for an increase, even among Republicans," Carroll said. In an open-ended question, allowing for any answer, 30 percent of New Jersey voters say the economy is the biggest issue facing the state, with 29 percent listing taxes. Another 8 percent list Hurricane Sandy recovery, with 7 percent citing education. Looking at Sandy recovery, 43 percent of voters say it will be one to three years before things get back to normal, while 36 percent expect recovery to take three to five years, with 10 percent expecting recovery to take more than five years. Another 4 percent expect things to be back to normal in under a year while 5 percent say "never." The owner of a home or business destroyed by Sandy should be allowed to rebuild with stricter building codes, 76 percent of voters say, including 76 percent of voters on the shore. Owners should be reimbursed and not allowed to rebuild, 6 percent say, while 16 percent say owners should be allowed to rebuild as before. From January 15 - 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,647 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information or RSS feed, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 27. What do you think is the most important problem facing New Jersey today? (Trend information is available upon request back through Apr 1996) Tot Economy Total 30% Economy general 3 Unemployment/jobs 23 Cost of living 2 Business leaving/ Outsourcing 1 Economy other 1 Taxes Total 29% Taxes general 8 Property tax 20 Taxes other 1 Hurricane Sandy Recovery 8% Education Total 7% Education general 2 Funding education 2 Teachers 1 Education other 2 Budget Total 5% Budget general 1 Budget deficits 1 Gov too big/Gov spending 1 State workers/Union contracts too costly 1 Budget priorities 1 Politicians Total 4% Politicians/Campaigns general 1 Governor/State leadership/Legislature 1 Political corruption 1 Politicians/Campaigns other 1 Crime Total 3% Crime/Violence general 2 Drugs 1 Gun control 2% Healthcare general 1% Pension 1% Mass Transit general 1% Other 3% DK/NA 3% 28. Do you think the laws covering the sale of guns in New Jersey should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are now? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp More strict 58% 34% 81% 51% 45% 69% 51% 85% 63% Less strict 8 10 2 13 14 3 9 - 10 Kept the same 29 52 13 30 38 20 35 9 22 DK/NA 5 4 3 6 3 7 5 6 5 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ More strict 60% 56% 67% 52% 57% 55% 55% 57% 66% Less strict 7 9 6 8 11 13 11 7 4 Kept the same 28 29 22 35 28 31 29 30 23 DK/NA 5 5 5 5 4 1 4 6 7 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch More strict 72% 64% 50% 46% 54% 30% 66% 56% 57% Less strict 5 9 11 11 6 23 4 9 8 Kept the same 16 24 34 38 34 46 23 30 29 DK/NA 8 4 4 5 6 1 6 5 6 29. As you may know, high-capacity magazines or clips can hold many rounds of ammunition, so a shooter can fire more rounds without manually reloading. Would you favor or oppose a nationwide ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines that hold many rounds of ammunition? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favor 70% 56% 83% 68% 62% 77% 68% 81% 64% Oppose 26 39 14 29 34 20 28 16 29 DK/NA 4 5 2 3 4 4 4 3 7 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favor 76% 65% 69% 69% 72% 55% 68% 73% 75% Oppose 20 31 27 28 25 41 28 24 20 DK/NA 3 4 4 3 3 4 5 3 4 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Favor 72% 74% 69% 63% 68% 49% 76% 69% 69% Oppose 21 23 28 34 28 47 20 28 27 DK/NA 7 3 3 3 4 4 4 3 4 30. Would you favor or oppose a nationwide ban on assault weapons? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favor 69% 54% 85% 66% 62% 76% 66% 85% 64% Oppose 27 41 12 31 35 19 30 15 28 DK/NA 4 6 2 3 3 5 4 1 8 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favor 75% 66% 70% 70% 70% 56% 71% 71% 75% Oppose 22 30 25 28 27 40 27 26 20 DK/NA 3 4 5 2 2 3 2 3 6 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Favor 77% 70% 66% 63% 72% 50% 76% 69% 69% Oppose 16 27 31 34 23 47 20 30 29 DK/NA 7 3 3 3 5 3 4 2 2 31. Would you favor or oppose requiring background checks on people buying guns at gun shows? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favor 96% 96% 98% 95% 96% 97% 96% 97% 92% Oppose 3 3 2 4 4 3 3 3 8 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 - - COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favor 96% 96% 95% 97% 97% 95% 96% 97% 96% Oppose 3 3 4 2 3 5 3 2 3 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - - 1 1 1 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Favor 98% 95% 96% 97% 97% 95% 97% 97% 98% Oppose 2 4 3 3 2 5 2 2 2 DK/NA 1 - 2 - 1 1 1 - - 32. Would you favor or oppose creating a federal government database to track all gun sales? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favor 78% 64% 94% 72% 70% 84% 74% 93% 82% Oppose 20 34 3 26 28 12 24 5 12 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 2 4 3 2 6 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favor 79% 77% 79% 77% 78% 81% 77% 78% 75% Oppose 19 20 17 20 21 14 21 20 21 DK/NA 2 3 3 2 1 5 2 2 4 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Favor 85% 82% 63% 77% 76% 59% 84% 79% 82% Oppose 14 15 33 20 22 36 14 19 17 DK/NA 1 3 4 3 2 5 2 2 1 33. Would you favor or oppose laws to prevent people with mental illness from purchasing guns? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favor 92% 93% 93% 90% 92% 91% 93% 93% 85% Oppose 5 5 4 7 5 5 4 5 14 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 1 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favor 92% 92% 92% 95% 91% 89% 91% 91% 95% Oppose 4 6 7 2 5 7 6 5 3 DK/NA 4 2 1 4 4 4 2 4 2 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Favor 94% 91% 89% 90% 96% 91% 92% 92% 93% Oppose 3 6 8 5 4 5 5 5 4 DK/NA 3 3 3 5 1 4 3 3 3 34. Do you think that gun ownership in the United States does more to protect people from becoming victims of crime, or does more to put people's safety at risk? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Protects people 38% 61% 18% 43% 50% 28% 42% 23% 44% Puts people at risk 50 29 71 46 40 59 46 64 43 DK/NA 11 10 11 11 10 13 11 13 13 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Protects people 34% 41% 33% 45% 38% 34% 43% 39% 34% Puts people at risk 56 47 55 44 54 55 47 50 52 DK/NA 10 13 12 11 9 11 10 11 14 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Protects people 24% 35% 48% 44% 42% 64% 30% 42% 43% Puts people at risk 62 54 43 45 46 25 58 48 48 DK/NA 14 11 10 12 12 11 12 10 10 35. Do you think allowing citizens to own assault weapons makes the country safer or more dangerous? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Safer 20% 37% 5% 23% 29% 12% 24% 6% 18% More dangerous 69 49 89 65 61 77 66 81 69 DK/NA 11 13 6 12 10 11 10 13 13 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Safer 16% 23% 16% 23% 21% 22% 23% 21% 15% More dangerous 76 65 74 65 72 66 64 71 75 DK/NA 8 12 11 12 7 12 13 9 10 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Safer 15% 18% 27% 24% 18% 40% 14% 24% 24% More dangerous 76 71 66 65 68 44 78 65 66 DK/NA 8 11 8 10 14 17 9 11 10 36. If you agreed with a political candidate on other issues, but not on the issue of guns, could you still vote for that candidate, or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 62% 69% 57% 65% 67% 57% 65% 55% 55% No 26 21 31 23 23 28 24 33 30 DK/NA 13 10 12 12 10 15 11 12 16 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Yes 65% 60% 56% 67% 68% 69% 71% 63% 48% No 26 26 30 22 23 21 21 25 34 DK/NA 9 15 14 10 10 10 8 12 19 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Yes 52% 64% 65% 62% 64% 63% 62% 71% 70% No 35 23 27 26 22 27 25 20 20 DK/NA 13 13 8 13 15 10 13 9 10 37. Do you favor or oppose placing an armed police officer in public schools in New Jersey? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favor 50% 57% 45% 48% 51% 50% 50% 53% 60% Oppose 44 34 50 47 44 44 44 44 33 DK/NA 6 9 4 5 5 6 6 3 7 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Favor 38% 58% 56% 51% 43% 63% 51% 50% 41% Oppose 56 36 38 44 51 33 42 45 50 DK/NA 6 6 6 5 5 4 7 4 9 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Favor 48% 49% 45% 57% 52% 62% 47% 56% 57% Oppose 45 46 48 38 42 32 48 40 38 DK/NA 7 5 8 4 7 6 6 4 5 38. Which of the following approaches do you think would be the most effective way to prevent mass shootings at schools, like the one that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut: banning assault weapons, or increasing police presence at schools, or decreasing gun violence on television, in movies, and video games, or increasing government spending on mental health screening and treatment? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Ban assault weapons 31% 17% 43% 28% 26% 35% 29% 40% 25% Police at schools 20 32 13 19 25 16 21 19 22 Decrease violent TV/Movies/Games 18 20 16 19 16 20 18 13 23 Increase Spending on mental health 25 23 27 26 24 26 20 26 DK/NA 6 5 5 7 7 5 6 8 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Ban assault weapons 38% 26% 31% 28% 34% 21% 29% 35% 31% Police at schools 15 23 20 25 18 30 24 18 13 Decrease violent TV/Movies/Games 15 20 21 16 15 14 12 18 27 Increase Spending on mental health 26 24 23 26 28 29 29 24 20 DK/NA 6 6 5 6 5 5 6 5 8 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Ban assault weapons 44% 32% 29% 25% 26% 14% 36% 28% 28% Police at schools 15 19 18 24 24 28 17 26 27 Decrease violent TV/Movies/Games 14 20 22 13 20 13 19 16 14 Increase Spending on mental health 19 25 26 31 24 39 21 26 26 DK/NA 9 6 4 6 6 6 6 5 4 39. Do you think the National Rifle Association cares more about protecting the rights of gun-owners or more about protecting the profits of gun-makers? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Rights of gun-owners 48% 75% 29% 49% 51% 45% 54% 26% 35% Profit of gun-makers 43 18 64 40 41 45 37 66 51 DK/NA 9 7 8 11 7 10 8 8 14 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Rights of gun-owners 45% 51% 44% 50% 49% 39% 44% 54% 48% Profit of gun-makers 47 41 46 41 44 53 47 39 41 DK/NA 9 9 10 8 7 8 9 7 11 Philly GUN HSHOLD HAVE KIDS... Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Yes No <18 InPubSch Rights of gun-owners 31% 44% 61% 55% 53% 68% 42% 49% 48% Profit of gun-makers 56 48 30 37 40 26 49 43 43 DK/NA 12 8 9 8 7 6 9 8 8 40. Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in New Jersey, which is now $7.25 an hour? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 82% 67% 96% 79% 75% 89% 80% 97% 86% Oppose 16 30 4 18 23 9 18 3 14 DK/NA 2 3 - 3 2 2 2 - - COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Support 79% 85% 86% 83% 80% 91% 80% 82% 81% Oppose 19 14 12 15 19 9 18 17 16 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 2 - 2 2 3 Philly Union Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHld Support 90% 84% 78% 82% 78% 85% Oppose 8 13 22 17 19 14 DK/NA 2 2 1 1 3 1 41. (If support q40) Do you think that the minimum wage should be $8.25 an hour, should be less than $8.25 an hour, or should be more than $8.25 an hour? SUPPORT INCREASE Q40 Tot Men Wom Exactly $8.25 39% 38% 40% Less than $8.25 5 6 3 More than $8.25 54 54 55 DK/NA 2 2 2 41a. (COMBINED Q40 & Q41)Would you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in New Jersey, which is now $7.25 an hour? IF SUPPORT: Do you think that the minimum wage should be $8.25 an hour, should be less than $8.25 an hour, or should be more than $8.25 an hour? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Increase to $8.25 32% 31% 32% 36% 28% 36% 34% 29% 30% Increase < $8.25 4 5 3 4 5 3 5 - 1 Increase > $8.25 45 30 59 39 41 49 39 68 55 Oppose increase 16 30 4 18 23 9 18 3 14 DK/NA 3 4 2 4 3 4 4 - 1 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Increase to $8.25 31% 33% 31% 35% 33% 44% 29% 29% 35% Increase < $8.25 4 4 3 5 5 6 5 3 3 Increase > $8.25 41 47 50 43 41 40 45 49 41 Oppose increase 19 14 12 15 19 9 18 17 16 DK/NA 5 2 3 2 3 1 3 3 6 Philly Union Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHld Increase to $8.25 31% 33% 32% 33% 32% 30% Increase < $8.25 4 3 3 6 3 5 Increase > $8.25 55 46 41 40 43 48 Oppose increase 8 13 22 17 19 14 DK/NA 3 4 3 3 3 3 42. Do you think small businesses will reduce the number of people they hire if the minimum wage is raised, or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 40% 49% 30% 44% 41% 39% 39% 38% 47% No 55 47 63 51 55 54 56 55 49 DK/NA 5 4 6 4 3 7 5 7 4 COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS.............. Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Yes 39% 41% 46% 36% 37% 49% 38% 39% 38% No 56 54 47 61 59 48 59 57 52 DK/NA 5 5 7 3 4 3 3 5 10 Philly Union Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore HsHld Yes 35% 41% 35% 41% 44% 38% No 57 53 60 55 53 57 DK/NA 8 6 5 4 3 4 Demographic Summary
