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CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

For release: Thursday, January 17, 2013 7:00 am EST

Gun Policy: Universal Background Checks and Armed Guards

January 11-15, 2012 Americans overwhelmingly favor universal background checks on all potential gun buyers, one of the proposals President Barack Obama put forward as part of his plans to help curb gun violence. 92% favor background checks for all potential gun buyers, while just 7% are opposed. The poll was conducted before the President’s press conference on Wednesday.

Background Checks on All Potential Gun Buyers Favor 92% Oppose 7

There is support for universal background checks across political party lines, and among Americans who have a gun in their household. 85% of those living in a household with an NRA member favor background checks.

Background Checks on All Potential Gun Buyers Total Reps Dems Inds Gun Households NRA Households

Favor 92% 89% 93% 93% 93% 85% Oppose 7 10 6 5 6 13

In addition, 74% of Americans think more armed security guards would help at least some to prevent mass shootings in public places such as schools, movie theaters, and malls. More than a third thinks it would help reduce such shootings a lot. Republicans, Democrats, and independents hold similar views on this.

Armed Security Guards Would Reduce Mass Shootings… Total Reps Dems Ind A lot 35% 36% 34% 36% Some 39 42 38 39 Not much/at all 25 21 28 25

______________________________________________________________________ This poll was conducted by telephone from January 11-15, 2013 among 1,110 adults nationwide. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Poll.

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CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

January 11-15, 2012

q59 Do you favor or oppose a federal law requiring background checks on all potential gun

buyers?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **

*** Party ID ***

Total Rep Dem Ind

% % % %

Favor 92 89 93 93

Oppose 7 10 6 5

DK/NA 1 1 1 2

q63 How much do you think more police or armed security guards would do to help prevent

mass shootings in public places such as schools, movie theaters, and malls? Would more

police or armed security guards help a lot, some, not much or not at all?

A lot 35 36 34 36

Some 39 42 38 39

Not much 17 15 17 17

Not at all 8 6 11 8

DK/NA 1 1 0 1

UNWEIGHTED WEIGHTED

Total Respondents 1,110

Total Republicans 313 288

Total Democrats 363 373

Total Independents 434 449