Favor ban Oppose ban Don't know/no opinion
Full Sample 46% 45% 10%
Democrats 78 13 9
Republicans 20 72 8
Independents 38 48 14
Tea Party Republicans 9 87 5
Mainline Republicans 31 61 7
Men 39 55 6
Women 52 35 13
Male
Democrats
77 17 6
Female
Democrats
78 10 12
Male
Republicans
12 84 4
Female
Republicans
27 61 13
Urban 58 33 9
Suburban 43 48 9
Rural 36 53 10
Urban
Democrats
79 11 10
Suburban
Democrats
77 13 9
Rural
Democrats
74 18 8
Urban
Republicans
24 69 7
Suburban
Republicans
18 73 8
Rural
Republicans
19 72 9
Gun Owners 33 63 4
Non-Gun Owners 60 27 13
White 39 53 9
African American 73 14 13
Hispanic 54 35 11

Mouse-over for notes about the data

Measurement of Party ID for this chart is based on two questions. First, respondents were asked whether they consider themselves to be a Democrats, Republicans, independents, other, or not sure. Those who responded that they are independents or "other" were then asked if they lean toward either the Democrats or Republicans. If they indicated that they lean toward one party or the other, they are considered Democrats or Republicans for the purposes of this figure. Only "pure" independents or members of a third party who indicate that they have no preference for Democrats vis-a-vis Republicans are considered independents . Respondents who answered that they are "not sure" for either of the two aforementioned questions are not incorporated into this chart.

Tea Party identification is based on the following question, also asked in the survey: "Suppose the Tea Party movement organized itself as a political party. When thinking about the next election for Congress, would you vote for the Republican candidate from your district, the Democratic candidate from your district, or the Tea Party candidate from your district?" Those who responded "Republican candidate" are considered Republicans (Mainline Republicans) and those who responded "Tea Party candidate" are considered Tea Party Republicans.

To assess the environment of respondents, we asked, "Would you say that you live in an urban, suburban, or rural community?"

Finally, to assess gun ownership, respondents were asked, "Do you or does any other member of your household own a handgun, rifle, shot-gun, or any other kind of firearm?" Respondents who indicated that they owned a gun or that they and another family member own a gun were classified as gun owners.