More Strict Less Strict Left as they are now Don't Know/no opinion
Full Sample 44% 16% 36% 4%
Democrats 80 3 12 6
Republicans 14 26 58 3
Independents 39 22 35 4
Tea Party Republicans 7 40 54 0
Mainline Republicans 23 18 55 4
Men 40 24 35 2
Women 48 10 37 6
Male
Democrats
79 5 14 2
Female
Democrats
80 1 10 9
Male
Republicans
11 36 53 0
Female
Republicans
16 16 62 5
Urban 56 11 29 3
Suburban 41 17 38 4
Rural 34 22 40 4
Urban
Democrats
84 3 7 5
Suburban
Democrats
79 1 14 6
Rural
Democrats
69 6 20 4
Urban
Republicans
17 23 59 1
Suburban
Republicans
12 26 59 4
Rural
Republicans
15 28 56 2
Gun Owners 31 24 43 2
Non-Gun Owners 59 9 27 5
White 34 19 44 3
African American 81 4 8 6
Hispanic 54 12 28 6

Mouse-over for notes about the data

Measurement of Party ID for this chart is based on two questions. First, respondents were asked whether they consider themselves to be a Democrats, Republicans, independents, other, or not sure. Those who responded that they are independents or "other" were then asked if they lean toward either the Democrats or Republicans. If they indicated that they lean toward one party or the other, they are considered Democrats or Republicans for the purposes of this figure. Only "pure" independents or members of a third party who indicate that they have no preference for Democrats vis-a-vis Republicans are considered independents . Respondents who answered that they are "not sure" for either of the two aforementioned questions are not incorporated into this chart.

Tea Party identification is based on the following question, also asked in the survey: "Suppose the Tea Party movement organized itself as a political party. When thinking about the next election for Congress, would you vote for the Republican candidate from your district, the Democratic candidate from your district, or the Tea Party candidate from your district?" Those who responded "Republican candidate" are considered Republicans (Mainline Republicans) and those who responded "Tea Party candidate" are considered Tea Party Republicans.

To assess the environment of respondents, we asked, "Would you say that you live in an urban, suburban, or rural community?"

Finally, to assess gun ownership, respondents were asked, "Do you or does any other member of your household own a handgun, rifle, shot-gun, or any other kind of firearm?" Respondents who indicated that they owned a gun or that they and another family member own a gun were classified as gun owners.