Results of the "Mother of ALL Polls"

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY                                    
MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Burnaby, B.C. Canada V5A 1S6
(604) 291-3210/291-4323
FAX (604) 291-3039    
                                                     Feb. 9, 1995

   SURVEY INDICATES LACK OF GUN-LAW KNOWLEDGE
   INFLATES SUPPORT FOR FIREARM REGISTRATION

A national public opinion survey just conducted by a Simon Fraser
University researcher reveals that Canadians know little about existing gun
control laws and that their support for firearm registration weakens as they
become more knowledgeable about the issue. This knowledge includes the
"hidden costs" associated with firearms registration.
    The SFU study also reinforces the findings of other surveys indicating
that Canadians place a very low priority on stricter gun control laws as a
method of combating violent crime.
    Prof. Gary Mauser, of SFU's faculty of business administration and the
university's Institute for Canadian Urban Research Studies, designed the
survey of just over 1500 Canadians. Canadian Facts conducted it between Jan.  
18 and 23. Funding was provided by the Langley Symposium of Responsible
Canadians.
    "The preliminary results of this survey provide a clearer insight into
the gun control controversy than has been available in recent single-question
polls," claims Mauser. "They suggest that support for firearms registration is
based upon a lack of knowledge of both the present legislation and potential
costs associated with a firearms registry."
     Only eight per cent of Canadians describe themselves as "very familiar"
with current gun laws, while 27 per cent stated they were "not at all familiar."
     A number of "skill testing questions verified this lack of knowledge.
Only three per cent knew the maximum penalty for having an unregistered
handgun is five years. Less than half (47 per cent) knew that a police permit is
required to purchase a rifle or shotgun. Only 21 per cent knew about the existence
of a mandatory government firearms safety course, just two per cent
knew that letters of reference were required from gun purchasers or that gun
shops must keep a record of their names and addresses.
    As with other national polls, Mauser's survey revealed substantial
support - 86 per cent - for registering all firearms. Support drops
significantly, however, as the respondent's knowledge of existing laws
increases. Only 58 per cent of respondents who were "very familiar" with
existing laws supported registration.
    Support also drops as "hidden costs", such as the cost of firearm
registration or its potential draw on police resources, are identified. The
percentage of supporters of gun registration drops to 50 per cent when advised
that a reporting system could cost $500 million over five years. Similarly,
support drops to 44 per cent when respondents are advised that registration
paperwork could force police departments to reassign some officers from the
street to desk jobs.
    When the national sample was asked what should be done to reduce
violent crime, the single most popular solution, endorsed by 20 per cent,
called for increased prison sentences. At four per cent, stricter gun controls
was tied with two other potential remedies to violent crime: Increased police
services and reduced violence in the mass media.
    Mauser, who is a polling expert with more than 25 years of practical
and academic experience in the field, is active with the B.C. Wildlife
Federation and an enthusiastic target shooter and hunter. He is past-president
of the Historical Arms Collectors Society of B.C.
    Mauser is using the survey data for an academic paper to be presented
to the American Society of Criminology. He has published previously on the
subject of public opinion and firearms.

Contacts: Dr. Gary Mauser, phone (604) 291-3652 (office) or 936-9141 (home)
                Ken Mennell, media/public relations, (604) 291-3929