Gun Control Policy Attitudes & Priorities Survey

Thanks for taking part in this survey on gun policy in the U.S. There are no right or wrong answers — we want your honest views, whatever they are. It takes about 6-8 minutes, and a few responses are anonymous by default.

Which best describes your relationship to firearms today?

• I currently own one or more firearms
• I have owned a firearm in the past but don't now
• I have never owned a firearm but have used one (e.g., shooting range, hunting, service)
• I have never owned or used a firearm

In the past year, have you or someone close to you been directly affected by gun violence (e.g., threatened, injured, or lost someone)?

• Yes, personally
• Yes, someone close to me
• No
• Prefer not to say

How much do you agree or disagree with each statement?

Of the following policy proposals, which would you consider the MOST effective and LEAST effective at reducing gun violence in the U.S.?

• Universal background checks for all firearm sales, including private sales
• Red flag laws allowing temporary removal of firearms from at-risk individuals
• Raising the minimum legal age to purchase a firearm
• Banning high-capacity magazines
• Mandatory waiting periods before a purchase is completed
• Stricter safe-storage requirements to prevent unauthorized access
• Increased funding for mental health services

Overall, where do you fall between prioritizing gun rights and prioritizing gun regulation?

Rank the factors below by how much they've shaped your views on guns, from most influential to least.

1. Family upbringing or cultural background
2. Personal experience with gun violence or self-defense
3. News and media coverage
4. Religious or moral beliefs
5. Political party affiliation
6. Professional experience (e.g., law enforcement, military, medicine)

Probe the reasoning behind the respondent's placement on the gun-rights-vs-regulation scale, anchoring on the specific policy statements or proposals they rated most strongly (in either direction) in the earlier questions. Ask what personal experiences, events, or people most shaped that view, and whether there's any policy on 'the other side' they could support. If they reported being personally affected by gun violence, gently explore how that experience influences their current position. If their answers seem inconsistent (e.g., strongly favoring rights but rating most regulations as effective), ask them to reconcile that directly.

Which best describes your political affiliation?

• Democrat
• Republican
• Independent
• Other
• Prefer not to say

What is your age range?

• Under 18
• 18-24
• 25-34
• 35-44
• 45-54
• 55-64
• 65 or older
• Prefer not to say

What is your gender?

• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary
• Prefer to self-describe
• Prefer not to say

Which region best describes where you live? (Template note: replace with country-specific regions before launching.)

• Northeast
• Midwest
• South
• West
• Outside the U.S.
• Prefer not to say

Thank you for sharing your views. Your answers, along with everyone else's, will be aggregated into a report on public attitudes toward gun policy — individual responses are not shared or attributed to you.