85% of Floridians support background checks on gun sales

Gun violence prevention organization Giffords has released new polling that it conducted in Florida with the Democratic Party-affiliated survey company Public Policy Polling on May 26-27. In the poll, 655 Florida voters were surveyed.

The polling indicates that 85 percent of Florida residents are in favor of background checks on all gun sales. Only 6 percent of Floridians said they are not in favor. 9 percent said they are not sure. The policy of background checks on gun sales is one Florida Senator Marco Rubio has voted against.

A majority of poll participants – 60 percent – said that in their opinion, gun laws in the US should be stronger. 25 percent of the Florida voters were of the opinion that gun laws should be kept the same. 9 percent said the US should have less strong gun laws. 6 percent had no opinion.

With regards to voting for candidates for US Senate in Florida, 69 percent said they would be more likely to vote for a background checks-supporting candidates. Just 7 percent said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes background checks. 21 percent said it would not have any impact on their vote, with 3 percent being unsure on this issue.

When asked whether they would be more likely to vote for a candidate for office who opposed the checks, 17 percent said yes, 48 percent said no, 24 percent said it would not make a difference and 11 percent said they were unsure.

Giffords is led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Gun homicides take more than 1000 lives every year in Florida. Around 1700 die from firearm suicide in the state.

“In the wake of the Uvalde tragedy, Florida is poised to weaken gun laws further by allowing Floridians to carry concealed guns even if they have not received a permit,” said a Giffords press release.

The complete survey is available on Giffords’s website, here.