Guns in public: Poll finds ‘most Americans’ comfortable with public carry of handgun in holster

OPINION:

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

“Most Americans” - 52 percent - say that they would feel comfortable if they saw someone carrying a handgun in a holster in public. So says a new YouGov poll - which also reveals the nuances of public sentiment, and the large partisan divides. Here are the numbers:

52 percent overall say they would be comfortable if they saw someone with a handgun in a holster in public; 72 percent of Republicans, 54 percent of independents and 35 percent of Democrats agree.

48 percent overall say the ’average American’ can be trusted with a firearm; 69 percent of Republicans, 49 percent of independents and 32 percent of Democrats agree.

45 percent say people should not be able to carry firearms in public; 23 percent of Republicans, 42 percent of independents and 66 percent of Democrats agree.

41 percent say people should be able to carry firearms in public; 67 percent of Republicans, 43 percent of independents and 21 percent of Democrats agree.

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40 percent overall prefer “concealed carry” for firearms in public; 50 percent of Republicans, 38 percent of independents and 36 percent of Democrats agree.

37 percent overall prefer “open carry” in public; 36 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of independents and 38 percent of Democrats agree.

36 percent overall would be comfortable if someone carried a hunting rifle in public; 47 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of independents and 20 percent of Democrats agree.

20 percent overall would be comfortable if someone carried a semi-automatic rifle in public; 35 percent of Republicans, 19 percent of independents and 8 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: A YouGov poll of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted May 20-22.