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Support For Handgun Ban Hits Record Low As Gun Violence, Sales Soar During Pandemic, Poll Finds

Robert HartForbes Staff Business I cover breaking news. Updated Nov 17, 2021, 06:51am EST More From Forbes

Topline

Americans’ support for a complete ban on handguns is the lowest on record, according to a new Gallup poll, part of a wider dip in support for stricter gun control measures as gun sales, violent crime and gun violence soared during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Americans' support for handgun ban hit record low, [+] [-] Gallup found. Getty Images

Key Facts

Less than one in five (19%) Americans supported a complete ban on handguns in the U.S., except for police and authorized persons, according to the poll of 823 adults living in all 50 states, conducted between October 1 and 19.

It’s the lowest level of support since Gallup began polling the issue in 1980 and down six points from last year, the poll found.

While no political party surveyed indicated majority support for a ban on handguns, Gallup found marked political differences—40% of Democrats were in favor compared to just 14% of Independents and 6% of Republicans—with the overall drop in support “largely attributable to political independents,â€� which has fallen 16 points since 2019. 

A slim majority of Americans support stricter gun control laws—52%—the poll found, the lowest point since 2014 and down from 67% in 2018 after the Parkland, Florida school shooting.    

Political differences are more stark regarding support for stricter gun laws, Gallup found, and near unanimous support from Democrats (91%) contrasts with less than half (45%) of Independents and fewer than a quarter (24%) of Republicans. 

While more Democrats and Republicans supported stricter gun control laws this year—rising 6 and 2 points, respectively—a 15-point drop in support from Independents, coupled with a 14-point drop among Republicans the year before, drove the overall level of support down.

Key Background

Last year was one of the deadliest for gun violence in decades, with violent crime rising for the first time in four years. Gun sales hit an all-time high during the pandemic and nearly 23 million were sold during 2020 alone, a two-thirds jump from the year before. While sales have dropped in 2021, they remain well above pre-pandemic levels, and researchers are divided over whether the surge is responsible for the increase in violence.

Big Number 

31%. That’s how many American adults say they own a gun, according to Gallup. While this figure has remained unchanged in decades, the reasons people give for doing so have. Some 88% said they own a gun to protect themselves against crime, up from 67% in 2005. Protection supplanted target shooting (70%) as the dominant reason for owning a gun, Gallup found, which gained four points since 2005. The number of Americans citing hunting as a reason for owning a gun (56%) dropped two points from 2005. 

Further Reading

Mass Shootings Soared During Pandemic — And Researchers Think Covid Stress Could Be To Blame (Forbes)

'Something has to be done': After decades of near-silence from the CDC, the agency's director is speaking up about gun violence (CNN)

Violence, Drugs And Fast Food: How Americans’ Risky Behavior Surged While Under A Covid Lockdown (Forbes)

Gun Violence Soared In 27 States During The Covid-19 Pandemic — It Went Down In Just One (Forbes)

Gun Sales Dropped In August From 2020 — But Surged Ahead Of Pre-Pandemic Levels (Forbes)

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