Poll: Majority of Floridians oppose assault weapon ban

assault rifle

Democrats who believe that running against the Second Amendment is a road to victory in 2018 need to think again, according to a poll released Tuesday.

A University of North Florida survey showed that only 42 percent of respondents support a ban on assault weapon and large-capacity ammunition sales; 52 percent of respondents oppose, including 55 percent of Republicans and 47 percent of Democrats.

“Even in the wake of the Las Vegas shootings, Floridians are not supportive of restricting access to assault weapons,” said Dr. Michael Binder, UNF Public Opinion Research Laboratory faculty director.

Whereas assault weapons sales seem to be a political non-starter, the same does not hold true for open carry — an issue that, along with campus carry, sees Republicans opposite the views of the larger body politic.

54 percent of survey respondents oppose open carry, including 69 percent of Democrats.

57 percent of Republicans, meanwhile, support open carry. A majority of Republicans — 54 percent — also support concealed carry on college campuses, compared to just 37 percent support across the entire universe of survey respondents.

Despite the fact that 59 percent of respondents oppose open carry and so-called “campus carry,” Binder doesn’t expect that opposition to be reflected in public policy.

“Even though registered voters are opposed to open carry and campus carry here in Florida, Republicans remain supportive of these issues, which could influence policy in Tallahassee during the upcoming legislative session,” Binder said.

The live dial poll was conducted from Oct. 5 to Oct. 11; 609 Floridian registered voters were called. The poll has a 4 percent margin of error.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has written for FloridaPolitics.com since 2014. He is based in Northeast Florida. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


2 comments

  • Susan

    October 17, 2017 at 10:47 pm

    link to more detail? How was the question worded?

  • Rich.....

    October 18, 2017 at 12:56 am

    New Yorks 1,000,000 new illegal gun owners..

    REFUSED TO REGISTER THEIR GUNS….

    One million plus new felons, all armed with scary, high capacity, media labeled assault weapons!
    The deadline for New York residents to register their so called “Assault Weapons” and “High” (read standard) Capacity Magazines came and went.

    An estimated million plus, formerly law abiding, gun owners have refused to comply with Cuomo and down state Democrat’s naive belief that the NY Safe Act, passed in a so called emergency session of the New York legislature, could force free people to register their hard earned property.

    And who can blame these once lawful gun owners, with a president that picks and chooses which laws he will follow or enforce, as well as an Federal Attorney General that operates daily with a Contempt of Congress charge and gun running scandal, “Fast & Furious”, hanging over his head. Why should the average New York joe, bother to follow the law, especially when it is in direct conflict with the Constitution of the United States, the one true law of the land.

Comments are closed.


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