New Poll: 78 Percent of Delaware Voters, Including Most Gun Owners, Support Purchase Permits for All Firearm Sales

DOVER, Del. — Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Delaware chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today released new polling conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of Everytown. The results indicate that 78 percent of Delaware voters — including 61 percent of gun owners — support requiring a purchase permit for all firearms sales. SB 69, which is currently pending before the legislature, would require such a permit. In addition to strong support for this new measure, public support remains high for prohibitions on assault weapons and large capacity magazines, both of which were introduced last session and have been introduced again this year.

“One thing is clear from this polling: Delawareans support gun safety,” said Meghan Walls, volunteer with the Delaware chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “And this year, after taking our fight to end gun violence to the ballot box, we know we’ve got the support of our newly-elected leaders, too. This polling has only added fuel to our fire — we’re ready to work with our lawmakers to pass these widely-supported bills.”

“The poll results confirm exactly what the bill sponsors and Attorney General Jennings have been saying,” said Senator Bryan Townsend, a sponsor of SB 69 and other gun safety legislation.“A strong majority of Delawareans, from across the political spectrum, wants us to adopt common-sense gun laws that prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands, and that make sure guns available to the public are the ones designed for home defense and for hunting.”

The survey interviewed more than 800 Delawareans and found, among other results:

• 78 percent of voters — including 61 percent of gun owners and 67 percent of concealed carry permit holders — support requiring a purchase permit for all gun sales.
• 70 percent of voters support the prohibition of assault weapons and 71 percent of voters support the limiting of large capacity magazines.
• The majority of Delawareans across the political spectrum support all three policies polled (requiring a permit to purchase firearms, prohibiting assault weapons and limitations on large capacity magazine).

Background check requirements enforced with a permit to purchase are linked to lower numbers of gun-related deaths — it was estimated that Connecticut’s permit to purchase handgun licensing law was associated with a 40 percent reduction in firearm homicide rates over 10 years that the law was in place.