With over 49,000 violent incidents involving firearms occurring in 2015, legislation regarding the availability of guns is an extremely critical issue. Using the American National Election Study’s 2012 Time Series Study, this research considers the results of this survey, specifically whether certain demographics of respondents are more likely to believe the federal government should make laws on gun purchases more stringent. The independent variables of party identification, gender, and age are tested in relation to respondents’ opinions on gun control laws. Bivariate analysis finds that demographics of Americans identifying as Democrats, female, and sixty years or older are the most likely to support making laws for purchasing guns more difficult

Nicholas, Jessica J

English

Chapman University Digital Commons

Chapman UniversityChapman University Digital CommonsStudent Research Day Abstracts and Posters Office of Undergraduate Research and CreativeActivityFall 12-9-2015Gun Control and Public OpinionJessica J. NicholasChapman University, nicho147@mail.chapman.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cusrd_abstractsPart of the Models and Methods CommonsThis Poster is brought to you for free and open access by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity at Chapman University DigitalCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Research Day Abstracts and Posters by an authorized administrator of Chapman UniversityDigital Commons. For more information, please contact laughtin@chapman.edu.Recommended CitationNicholas, Jessica J., "Gun Control and Public Opinion" (2015). Student Research Day Abstracts and Posters. Paper 186.http://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cusrd_abstracts/186Gun Control and Public Opinion Jessica Nicholas Department of Political Science, Chapman University; Orange, California HypothesesH 1: Respondents who identify as Democrats will be more strongly in favor of the Federal government making it more difficult to buy a gun than those who identify as Republicans.   H 2: Women are more likely than men to support making guns less accessible.   H 3: Respondents in higher age brackets are more likely to support keeping guns laws the same, whereas respondents in lower age brackets are more likely to support making guns more difficult to buy.  Introduction to Research•  This research uses data from the National Election Study’s 2012 Time Series Study to explore how various factors such as party identification, gender, and age can impact one’s views on whether the federal government should make guns less accessible. •  The issue of gun control has become increasingly relevant in recent years due to increased violent gun-related incidents.  •  Gun laws are divided by state. Some states will issue only to residents, others will also issue to nonresidents. “May Issue” laws require an applicant to have a need for a permit, whereas “Shall Issue” laws only have a list of specifications.  •  Legislation such as the Castle Doctrine, first passed in Florida in 2005, gives citizens the right to protect themselves in their homes using deadly force. •  In some states, this right extends to one’s car or workplace.  •  Public opinion polling is a useful and viable way to interpret views.  •  There are many cross-cultural bel iefs surrounding the impact that factors including partisanship, gender, and age have on one’s opinion of controversial issues, including gun control. Conclusions•  Due to the increase in violent gun-related incidents, the issue of gun control becomes increasingly relevant.  •  As laws such as the Castle Doctrine are passed, clear guidelines are needed for laws surrounding gun control. •  Research shows that across political parties, genders, and age brackets, few are in support of making access to purchasing guns easier.  •  Though public opinion polling shows similar proportions of those who support more difficult laws versus those who support keeping laws the same, there is a higher proportion of those who support more difficult laws for purchasing guns.  Data H 1: Party Identification  Cross Tabulation Results:•  The Federal Government should make it more difficult to buy a gun  • Democrat: 65.8% • Republican: 26.9% • Independent: 45.6% •  The Federal Government should make it less difficult to buy a gun • Democrat: 2.0% • Republican: 8.6% • Independent: 6.6% •  The Federal Government should keep laws regarding access to guns about the same  • Democrat: 31.9% • Republican: 64.3% • Independent: 47.4%   H 2: Gender      H 3: Age     0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% Favor Making Gun Purchasing Laws More Difficult Favor Making Guns Purchasing Laws Less Difficult Favor Keeping Laws the Same 39.8% 6.2% 53.50% 57.0% 2.3% 39.60% Favor Making Gun Purchasing Laws More Difficult Favor Making Guns Purchasing Laws Less Difficult Favor Keeping Laws the Same Male 39.8% 6.2% 53.50% Female 57.0% 2.3% 39.60% Male Female References•  Catalfamo, Christine. (Fall 2007). Stand Your Ground: Florida’s Castle. Doctrine for the Twenty-First Century. Rutgers Journal of Law & Public Policy, Volume 4 (Issue 3). •  Concealed Carry Permit Information By State. USA Carry.•  Jacobs, James B. (2002). Can Gun Control Work? Oxford: Oxford University Press. •  Lott, John R. (2010). More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun-Control Laws, Third Edition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. •  Shal l - Issue, May-Issue, No-Issue, and Unrestricted States. (September 2010). Buckeye Firearms Association.•  Zimring, Frank. (Summer, 1968). Is Gun Control Likely to Reduce Violent Killings? The University of Chicago Law Review, 35 (4).FindingsH 1: Party Identification  Results of the Cross Tabulation show that nearly two thirds of Democrats, 65.8%, support making access to buying guns more difficult. The majority of Republicans, 64.3%, support keeping laws the same. Independents are divided almost equally, with 45.6% supporting more difficult laws, and 47.4% supporting keeping laws the same. Few people of any partisanship support the Federal Government making it less difficult to buy guns.   H 2: Gender   Women were found to be 15.4% more likely to support making access to purchasing guns more difficult than to support making access easier or keeping laws about the same. Men were found to be 7.5% more likely to favor keeping laws the same.    H 3: Age    The majority of respondents within all age brackets were not supportive of making guns easier to buy. The first bracket, ages 17-29, was evenly divided between supporting more difficult laws and keeping laws the same. The second and third age brackets, ages 30-39 and 45-49, respectively, were both 3.4% more likely to be in favor of making laws more difficult. The fourth age bracket, ages 60 and older, was 6.7% more likely to favor the Federal Government making buying guns more difficult.  0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% More Difficult Less Difficult About the Same  17-29 46.0% 7.1% 46.9% 30-39 48.6% 5.7% 45.2% 45-59 48.70% 5.40% 45.30% 60-75+ 50.90% 4.50% 44.20% 46.0% 7.1% 46.9% 48.6% 5.7% 45.2% Percentage of Respondents According to Age Gun Law Opinions Based on Age Brackets 17-29 30-39 45-59 60-75+ Age Interpretation •  Respondents were recoded into age brackets of 17-29 years old, 30-39 years old, 45- 59 years old, and 60 years and older.  •  After recording, Cross Tabulations was used. The total number of respondents was n= 5,914. The total number of respondents was n= 5,914. The total number of respondents was n= 5,854.  

Gun Control and Public Opinion

Gun Control and Public Opinion 
Jessica Nicholas 
Department of Political Science, Chapman University; Orange, California 
Hypotheses
H 1: Respondents who identify as Democrats will be more strongly in favor of the Federal government making it more 
difficult to buy a gun than those who identify as Republicans.  
 
H 2: Women are more likely than men to support making guns less accessible.  
 
H 3: Respondents in higher age brackets are more likely to support keeping guns laws the same, whereas respondents in 
lower age brackets are more likely to support making guns more difficult to buy.  
Introduction to Research
•  This research uses data from the National 
Election Study’s 2012 Time Series Study to 
explore how various factors such as party 
identification, gender, and age can impact one’s 
views on whether the federal government 
should make guns less accessible. 
•  The issue of gun control has become 
increasingly relevant in recent years due to 
increased violent gun-related incidents.  
•  Gun laws are divided by state. Some states will 
issue only to residents, others will also issue to 
nonresidents. “May Issue” laws require an 
applicant to have a need for a permit, whereas 
“Shall Issue” laws only have a list of 
specifications.  
•  Legislation such as the Castle Doctrine, first 
passed in Florida in 2005, gives citizens the 
right to protect themselves in their homes using 
deadly force. 
•  In some states, this right extends to one’s car 
or workplace.  
•  Public opinion polling is a useful and viable way 
to interpret views.  
•  There are many cross-cultural bel iefs 
surrounding the impact that factors including 
partisanship, gender, and age have on one’s 
opinion of controversial issues, including gun 
control. 
Conclusions
•  Due to the increase in violent gun-related 
incidents, the issue of gun control becomes 
increasingly relevant.  
•  As laws such as the Castle Doctrine are 
passed, clear guidelines are needed for laws 
surrounding gun control. 
•  Research shows that across political parties, 
genders, and age brackets, few are in support 
of making access to purchasing guns easier.  
•  Though public opinion polling shows similar 
proportions of those who support more difficult 
laws versus those who support keeping laws 
the same, there is a higher proportion of those 
who support more difficult laws for purchasing 
guns.  
Data
 
H 1: Party Identification 
 
Cross Tabulation Results:
•  The Federal Government should make it 
more difficult to buy a gun  
• Democrat: 65.8% 
• Republican: 26.9% 
• Independent: 45.6% 
•  The Federal Government should make it less 
difficult to buy a gun 
• Democrat: 2.0% 
• Republican: 8.6% 
• Independent: 6.6% 
•  The Federal Government should keep laws 
regarding access to guns about the same  
• Democrat: 31.9% 
• Republican: 64.3% 
• Independent: 47.4% 
 
 
H 2: Gender 
 
 
 
 
 
H 3: Age 
 
 
 
 
0.0% 
10.0% 
20.0% 
30.0% 
40.0% 
50.0% 
60.0% 
Favor Making Gun Purchasing 
Laws More Difficult 
Favor Making Guns Purchasing 
Laws Less Difficult 
Favor Keeping Laws the Same 
39.8% 
6.2% 
53.50% 
57.0% 
2.3% 
39.60% 
Favor Making Gun Purchasing Laws 
More Difficult 
Favor Making Guns Purchasing 
Laws Less Difficult Favor Keeping Laws the Same 
Male 39.8% 6.2% 53.50% 
Female 57.0% 2.3% 39.60% 
Male 
Female 
References
•  Catalfamo, Christine. (Fall 2007). Stand Your 
Ground: Florida’s Castle. Doctrine for the 
Twenty-First Century. Rutgers Journal of Law & 
Public Policy, Volume 4 (Issue 3). 
•  Concealed Carry Permit Information By State. 
USA Carry.
•  Jacobs, James B. (2002). Can Gun Control 
Work? Oxford: Oxford University Press. 
•  Lott, John R. (2010). More Guns, Less Crime: 
Understanding Crime and Gun-Control Laws, 
Third Edition. Chicago: The University of 
Chicago Press. 
•  Shal l - Issue, May-Issue, No-Issue, and 
Unrestricted States. (September 2010). 
Buckeye Firearms Association.
•  Zimring, Frank. (Summer, 1968). Is Gun Control 
Likely to Reduce Violent Killings? The 
University of Chicago Law Review, 35 (4).
Findings
H 1: Party Identification 
 Results of the Cross Tabulation show that 
nearly two thirds of Democrats, 65.8%, support 
making access to buying guns more difficult. The 
majority of Republicans, 64.3%, support keeping 
laws the same. Independents are divided almost 
equally, with 45.6% supporting more difficult laws, 
and 47.4% supporting keeping laws the same. Few 
people of any partisanship support the Federal 
Government making it less difficult to buy guns.  
 
H 2: Gender 
 
 Women were found to be 15.4% more likely to 
support making access to purchasing guns more 
difficult than to support making access easier or 
keeping laws about the same. Men were found to 
be 7.5% more likely to favor keeping laws the 
same.  
 
 
H 3: Age  
 
 The majority of respondents within all age 
brackets were not supportive of making guns 
easier to buy. The first bracket, ages 17-29, was 
evenly divided between supporting more difficult 
laws and keeping laws the same. The second and 
third age brackets, ages 30-39 and 45-49, 
respectively, were both 3.4% more likely to be in 
favor of making laws more difficult. The fourth age 
bracket, ages 60 and older, was 6.7% more likely 
to favor the Federal Government making buying 
guns more difficult.  
0.0% 
10.0% 
20.0% 
30.0% 
40.0% 
50.0% 
60.0% 
More Difficult Less Difficult About the Same  
17-29 46.0% 7.1% 46.9% 
30-39 48.6% 5.7% 45.2% 
45-59 48.70% 5.40% 45.30% 
60-75+ 50.90% 4.50% 44.20% 
46.0% 
7.1% 
46.9% 
48.6% 
5.7% 
45.2% 
Percentage of 
Respondents 
According to Age 
Gun Law Opinions Based on Age Brackets 
17-29 
30-39 
45-59 
60-75+ 
Age Interpretation 
•  Respondents were recoded 
into age brackets of 17-29 
years old, 30-39 years old, 
45- 59 years old, and 60 
years and older.  
•  After recording, Cross 
Tabulations was used. 
The total number of respondents was n= 5,914. The total number of respondents was n= 5,914. 
The total number of 
respondents was n= 5,854. 
 


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