Opinions on Gun Control: 1993- 2012 More important to
Our most recent survey on the issue, conducted July 26-29, 2012, shortly after a gunman killed 12 people at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, found that 47% said it was more important to control gun ownership, while 46% said it was more important to protect the rights of Americans to own guns. Opinions were largely unchanged from April 2012, when 45% prioritized gun control and 49% gun rights.
Opinion about gun control has been divided since early 2009, shortly after Barack Obama’s election. From 1993 through 2008, majorities had said it was more important to control gun ownership than to protect gun rights.
In May 1999, a month after the shooting at Columbine High School, 65% said it was more important to control gun ownership while 30% said it was more important to protect gun rights. The previous measure, from six years earlier (December 1993) found that 57% prioritized gun control while 34% prioritized gun rights.
Opinions on Gun Control:  | 1993- 2012  | More important to  | Control gun ownership  | 9 49 49  | App 46 47  | 46  | 45  | 45  | 34  | 32  | 29  | Protect the right of  | Americans to own guns  | 2007 2009 2012  | 1993  | 2000 2003  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 