More than 80% of GOP voters are in favor of requiring criminal background checks on all gun buyers – including those buying at gun shows and private sales – according to poll results released this week.
Fox News conducted the poll under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R) from April 21 to April 24. It included 1,004 registered voters nationwide.
According to Giffords Law Center, “the single largest gap in the federal background check requirement is that unlicensed, private sellers are not required to conduct background checks.”
In addition to federal background check laws, 21 states and the District of Columbia have extended background checks, said Giffords. Now, 16 states and D.C. require background checks for all gun sales.
“After a series of mass shootings this spring, including the killing of several students at a private Christian school in Tennessee, voters would prefer focusing on specific gun control measures rather than arming citizens to reduce gun violence,” said Fox.
Overall, 87% of poll respondents were in favor of criminal background checks for gun buyers, including 93% of Democrat voters an 81% of GOP voters. A majority of GOP voters (66%) were also in favor of a 30-day waiting period.
GOP voters supported other gun safety measures as well, though not quite as much as the overall public. For example, 67% of the GOP was in favor of raising the legal age to buy a gun to 21, compared to 81% of the overall poll sample. While 80% overall was in support of requiring mental health background checks, 73% of GOP voters were in favor of that measure.
However, Republican voters were less supportive of a ban on assault rifles and semi-automatic weapons, with just 36% in support compared to 84% of Democrats. Most GOP voters (61%) were also in favor of encouraging more citizens to carry guns to defend against attackers.
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“At least half of gun-owning households favor each of the gun proposals tested,” said Fox of the poll results. At the same time, the percentage of people who believe stricter gun laws would make the country safer was down compared to 2016.
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