New Research Shows Texans Support Stronger Laws to Prevent Gun Violence

May 31, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A recent survey of likely Texas voters conducted on behalf of Americans for Responsible Solutions, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, retired Navy combat veteran and NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, found that a broad majority of Texans support stronger laws to prevent gun violence, including background checks on all gun sales and keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

Among the survey’s findings:

85 percent of Texans, 79 percent of Texas Republicans, and 65 percent of National Rifle Association (NRA) members in Texas support requiring background checks on all gun sales; and,
79 percent of Texans support denying convicted domestic abusers access to guns.

As seen in other states, Texas voters believe that protecting people from violence and protecting their right to own a gun are not mutually exclusive goals, with 76 percent saying it is possible to do both in Texas.

The research also found that there is an opportunity among Hispanic voters for leaders willing to engage on strengthening gun laws. After hearing arguments from both sides of the debate on gun laws, 63 percent of Hispanic voters said they thought gun laws should be strengthened, up from 52 percent. The rise in support was even more dramatic among Hispanic women, whose support for stronger gun laws jumped from 56 to 75 percent.

“This research confirms what we’ve long known: there is widespread support among voters – including gun owners and NRA members – for common-sense policies that prevent gun violence,” said Pia Carusone, ARS Senior Advisor. “Even in states with long, proud traditions of gun ownership like Texas, talking about ways to reduce gun violence does not have to be a political liability – far from it. In fact, this research shows that candidates have much to gain among the state’s Hispanic voters – and particularly Hispanic women – when they stand up for common-sense solutions to gun violence.”

The survey was conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and surveyed 1,000 likely 2016 voters, including 892 likely 2014 voters. Fifty percent of all interviews were conducted on a cell phone. The survey was conducted by live professional interviewers between April 21 and April 28, 2014 and offered in both English and Spanish. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points.

###