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New Poll: Intensity of Support for Gun Safety Measures has Surged Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

5.18.2020

New Polling by Everytown and Global Strategy Group Finds Vast Majority of Americans Believe Requiring Background Checks on All Gun Sales and Disarming Domestic Abusers Are Even More Important Now Than Before the Pandemic

When Americans Learn About Surge of Gun Sales During the Pandemic, Intensity of Support for Background Checks and Disarming Domestic Abusers Surges Even Further

NEW YORK — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund unveiled a new national survey, which found that Americans’ intensity of support for common-sense gun safety measures has surged significantly during the coronavirus pandemic. Before the pandemic, polling across key battleground states showed broad support across party lines for common-sense gun safety measures, including background checks on all gun sales and disarming domestic abusers. This new survey found that the vast majority of Americans believe these common-sense gun safety measures are even “more important” now due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“This poll makes it clear that for voters across the country, and across political parties, the pandemic has only intensified their desire for common-sense gun laws,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Support for gun safety is surging, along with the electoral prospects of candidates who pledge to do everything in their power to prevent gun violence.”

“Americans are now facing dual crises — the global health pandemic, and the gun violence crisis, which shows no signs of stopping,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “This polling makes clear that Americans will prioritize gun safety when they vote in November.”

Now that the coronavirus pandemic has caused many to stay home, Americans are seeing gun violence in a new light. An estimated 4.2 million guns were sold in March and April – nearly doubling the 2.3 million guns sold during the same time period last year. This continued surge in gun sales is bringing new risks into American homes. Already, unintentional gun deaths by children have risen 43 percent and calls to local domestic abuse hotlines are skyrocketing across the country – which is especially troubling since access to a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that the woman will be killed.

The poll, conducted by Global Strategy Group, surveyed 1,500 Americans nationwide. Results from the poll, which was conducted between April 17 and April 22, found a significant majority of all Americans — including a majority of Independents, Republicans, gun owners, suburban women, and Americans in key presidential battleground states — believe requiring background checks on all gun sales and legislation to disarm domestic abusers are “more important” now than they were before the coronavirus pandemic. The poll also found that when participants were informed of the historic spike in gun sales, they viewed these policies as even more important: 

  • 60% of Americans said that requiring background checks on all gun sales was “more important” now than before the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • After being informed of the spike in gun sales, 70% of those surveyed said that requiring background checks on all gun sales was “more important” now than before the pandemic.
  • 68% of Americans said that passing legislation to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers was “more important” now than before the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • After being informed of the spike in gun sales, 72% of those surveyed said legislation to disarm domestic abusers was “more important” now than before the pandemic.

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Victory Fund plan to spend at least $60 million on the 2020 elections — double what it spent during the 2018 elections, and more than any gun safety opponent, including the NRA, reported spending on the 2016 elections.