Poll: Florida Voters Support 'Stand Your Ground' Law

 

          ORLANDO, Florida -- A majority of registered voters, 56 to 35 percent, support the Florida's “Stand Your Ground” law that has come under recent scrutiny according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.   Support is 78 – 15 percent among Republicans and 58 – 35 percent among independent voters while Democrats are opposed 59 – 32 percent.  Men support “Stand Your Ground” 65 – 31 percent while women support it 48 – 39 percent.  Support is 61 – 31 percent among white voters and 53 – 36 percent among Hispanic voters while black voters are opposed 56 – 30 percent. 

 

The Trayvon Martin shooting in Sanford, Florida has brought the issue of gun control and the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law into the public eye.

By 51 – 45 percent, voters oppose stricter gun control laws in the state with a huge partisan split and gender gap.  Democrats favor stricter gun control 73 – 23 percent, while Republicans oppose the idea 74 – 22 percent. Independent voters oppose stricter gun control        51 – 42 percent.  Women want stronger gun control 54 – 41 percent, while men are opposed 62 – 34 percent.

“Despite the controversy, public opinion seems to be solidly behind ‘Stand Your Ground’ and slightly against stricter gun control,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac   University Polling Institute.

 

On one area there was support for more gun control.  By 83 – 14 percent, voters don’t think even people with concealed weapons permits should be allowed to bring a gun into the State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida.  

By a narrow 49 – 46 percent margin, Florida voters disagree with Tampa, Florida Mayor Bob Buckhorn who wants guns banned from downtown Tampa during the Republican convention.

From May 15 – 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,722 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points.  Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.  The survey includes 742 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research.  


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