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A
survey
of
Ohioans,
conducted
by
Baldwin
Wallace
University's
Community
Research
Institute
(CRI),
found
broad
support
for
new
measures
to
regulate
the
sale
of
firearms
with
three
quarters
of
registered
voters
in
favor
of
raising
the
minimum
age
to
buy
semiautomatic
rifles
to
21
and
establishing
mandatory
waiting
periods
to
purchase
a
gun.
The statewide survey was conducted as a faculty-mentored project in a research methods course, under the direction of Dr. Lauren Copeland, associate director of BW CRI and assistant professor of political science.
Copeland says both the February Parkland, Florida, high school shooting and the subsequent call for "common sense gun laws" by Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich moved students to add the series of questions to their survey conducted between February 28 and March 9.
"One of our challenges was to design questions that present clear policy choices and to avoid emotional triggers on gun control and the Second Amendment," said Copeland. "My students, who come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences with firearms, including a U.S. Marine veteran, were involved every step of the way."
The
class
was
surprised
to
find
every
major
gun
policy
proposal
in
the
survey
enjoyed
broad
majority
support.
Women
were
more
likely
to
favor
the
measures,
as
were
Democrats.
But
Republicans
backed
the
proposals
by
margins
of
50
to
92
percent.
The questions also allowed survey respondents to choose "neither support/oppose," so the proposal with the least overall support, a ban on semiautomatic weapons, was opposed by just one in four Ohioans surveyed (27%).
"There was almost no partisan difference on a mandatory waiting period for gun purchases," noted Michael Brown '18, a national security and political science double major, as the class dissected the results this week. Sustainability major, Lydia Maendel '18, added, "It makes you wonder if this is an issue where Republicans and Democrats can come together to enact policy change."
"Maybe people are starting to say, 'enough is enough; we're ready for this,'" added political science major Ian Anderson '18.
With
about
68
percent
of
parents
polled
either
'very
concerned'
or
'somewhat
concerned'
about
the
threat
of
a
mass
shooting
in
their
child's
school,
all
survey
participants
were
asked
to
choose
which
measures
might
do
more
to
reduce
gun
violence
in
schools.
The top pick, at about 68 percent, was the use of metal detectors in schools, followed by 60 percent supporting the use of armed guards. About half (49.5%) said stricter gun laws will keep schools safe and just a quarter (27%) selected arming teachers among the best ideas.
For the series of questions about specific policies, overall results were:
The CRI poll included questions on a variety of issues and students are still digging into the data. CRI recently released topline results on several regional and statewide issues for media use.
Students are continuing to evaluate each module of the data and will present a variety of findings at BW's April Ovation Festival, the University's spring showcase of student work and achievement.
Access a pdf of the Ohio guns survey topline data, with statement of methodology.
