Kelly Hayes
In the wake of recent mass shootings, a supermajority of Floridians have said they support stricter gun control measures, like universal background checks and red flag laws. That’s according to a recently released poll conducted by researchers from the University of South Florida and Florida International University.
The poll, which surveyed 600 Floridians from July 2 through July 10, found that Floridians — regardless of partisan affiliation — overwhelmingly support gun reform measures. Quotas were stratified by region of the state for geographical representativeness, and respondents were selected via stratified, quota sampling to ensure a representative sample (gender, age, race/ethnicity, education and party affiliation mirroring that of the state).
The measure with the most support was universal background checks — 92% of respondents support requiring this measure, including 75% of whom “strongly support” it. That leaves less than 6% collectively of those who oppose universal background checks, and another 2% who are unsure.
That broad support also crosses party lines — 96% of Democrats, 91% of Republicans and 91% of Independents said they supported universal background checks.
Despite high consensus among Floridians regarding gun regulation, state GOP leadership has made clear its not interested in looking into such reforms.
In June, Gov. Ron DeSantis Florida Democrats for their calls for a Special Session on gun violence, ending any chance the Democrats had at addressing gun reform. However, the Governor has vowed to expand Floridians’ ability to carry firearms, having promised to pass permitless carry legislation in recent months.
Respondents also showed overwhelming support for other gun reform proposals, including requiring a license to purchase guns classified as “assault weapons.” About 86% of Floridians support this measure, including 95% of Democrats, 79% of Republicans and 84% of Independents, while 11% oppose the idea. About 3% of respondents said they’re unsure.
Raising the age to purchase “assault weapons” to 21 years old found 89% support from Floridians, including 95% of Democrats, 81% of Republicans and 90% of Independents. That’s compared to 10% of Floridians who oppose raising the age requirement, and another 2% who are unsure.
Another measure — requiring a mandatory waiting period for all gun purchases — saw 86% support from Floridians, as well as a similar partisan break down as the previous. About 12% of Floridians oppose a waiting period, and 3% are unsure.
The poll also asked respondents about legislation banning individuals convicted of domestic abuse from purchasing a firearm, which 86% said they supported, and 14% opposed.
Floridians also supported “red flag” laws, which are state level laws that require the removal/surrender of firearms from individuals once a judge has declared that individual to be dangerous to themselves or to others. The survey found that 88% of respondents support Florida enacting “red flag” laws, and only 11% opposing.
Gun violence is a topic on Floridians’ minds going into the Midterms. The survey found it was the third most important issue to Floridians heading to the polls, beat only by inflation and the economy.
Most Floridians (59%) approve of the recent bipartisan gun reforms passed by Congress, which followed recent high-profile mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas. In Buffalo, 10 Black people were killed and three others injured at a supermarket. In Uvalde, a shooter killed 19 students and two teachers. The legislation cleared a week after a gunman in Highland Park, Illinois, killed seven people at an Independence Day parade.
The poll results are reported with a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error +/- 4.
6 comments
YYep
July 12, 2022 at 5:03 pm
As mugshots.com does it’s constitutional
Yeah
July 12, 2022 at 8:17 pm
I like to support long stay mental health facilities for problems associated with capacitated conditions
I understand abuse also goes with this support but selfie destruction kinda of leaves it’s boundaries
Richard Bruce
July 12, 2022 at 9:45 pm
This article is proof the Founding Fathers wisely selected a Constitutional Representative Republic and not a democracy. Mob rule cannot vote away rights. Mob rule is also usually wrong.
Michael Paris
July 13, 2022 at 11:15 am
A “supermajority lol” we have universal background checks now. We have “Red Flag” laws that are being applied to many of the wrong people instead of the ones who engage in mass shootings. The red flag law is discretionary to prosecutors and judges. Mental illness is not and has not been and continues to be NOT addressed.
Rich7553
July 13, 2022 at 9:54 pm
Would you support a universal background check requirement and a red flag equivalent on voting? How about free speech?
Gene Ralno
July 14, 2022 at 5:13 pm
What’s to be gained with rules for criminals? Criminals don’t subject themselves to legal processes and gun show sales now require background checks. That leaves private sales, a small percentage of the total. Most Americans tolerate the current background check system but find universal background checks unacceptable. The reason is only peaceable owners suffer the brunt of forced compliance.
Universal background check laws punish millions of widows who fail to run background checks on those promised their dead husbands’ collections. Usually, those would be their children. These mothers don’t traffic illegal firearms. To enforce such laws, it always comes back to the notion of universal registration, a practice already forbidden by the Supreme Court.
The worst of this democrat plank is it won’t save lives or reduce crime because lawful citizens are the only ones affected. What democrats really want is to register transfers between mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, uncles, cousins, friends, and neighbors. They’re after inheritances, gifts and sales of inherited collections, however small.
Universal background checking also has an unintended consequence. Because an individual isn’t permitted to conduct a background check, it must be serviced for a fee by a licensed dealer. The additional cost, effort, inconvenience and time will cause most to forego the fuss, keep the used firearm and buy a new one anyway.
Of course a buyer, usually a relative or close friend, also will be forced to procure a new firearm. Such a law not only will increase the numbers held in personal arsenals, it will greatly reduce used firearm availability and increase the need for manufacturing new ones. It’s a politically inspired bonanza for manufacturers.
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