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NEW POLL: Michigan Voters Demand Action on Gun Safety

Poll finds 89% of Michiganders support universal background checks

Lansing, MN Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released new polling that shows the overwhelming majority of Michiganders support gun safety measures and want to reduce gun violence in the state. 

Read the poll HERE.

Peter Ambler, Giffords Executive Director:

“Over the past few years, Michigan has suffered deadly mass shootings at Oxford High School and Michigan State University on top of the countless lives lost to everyday gun violence. More than 1,500 Michiganders were killed by a gun in 2021. Last November, Michigan voters flipped the balance of power in the state legislature and elected gun safety majorities in both chambers, now it’s time for these elected leaders to act. The Michigan legislature has introduced important, life-saving legislation that would implement universal background checks, safe storage, and extreme risk protection orders. This new polling reinforces what the voters said at the ballot box in November—they demand action on gun safety now.”

The polling found that:

  • Gun safety is top of mind for Michigan voters. When asked what they feel is the most important issue the Michigan legislature should make a top priority, 21% chose gun laws, coming in ahead of the economy (20%), and outpacing other issues like inflation (12%), crime and public safety (10%), and improving K-12 schools (10%).
  • Eighty-nine percent of Michigan voters support background checks for all gun sales. 
  • Extreme Risk Protection Orders, sometimes known as Red Flag Laws, are popular with Michiganders. 75 percent of respondents support instituting a Red Flag law. 
  • The overwhelming majority of voters (88 percent) support requiring gun owners to safely store their firearms. 
  • Needed violence intervention programs that work within communities to address the root causes of gun violence were also supported by 76 percent of voters. 
  • The majority of Michigan voters support the gun safety legislative package that is moving forward in the Michigan legislature. Seventy-three percent of respondents support the Michigan legislature enacting these reforms. 
  • Support for the gun safety legislation being considered by the Michigan Legislature is supported across political and racial lines. It’s universally backed by Democrats and majorities of Independents, Black voters, white voters, and gun owners.
  • Michigan voters are much more likely to vote for a candidate who supports gun safety than one who wants to make it easier to purchase a gun. By a 61-point margin, Michiganders are more likely to support a candidate who supports gun safety (74%) versus a candidate who wants to make it easier to purchase a firearm (13%).

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Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.

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