Poll Analysis: Californians Support Stricter Gun Control, Would Hold Parents Responsible for Children’s Gun Crimes

     Despite a recent spate of school-yard violence, nearly seven in 10 parents in California said they feel their child is safe from violence in their own school, according to the most recent Times poll conducted June 10-14, 1999. Californians continue to favor stricter gun control measures and support a slate of proposals that would put restrictions on the sale of guns, as long as handguns are not banned outright, but don't feel that gun control is the only answer to violence in schools. Pluralities say parents must shoulder the blame, citing lack of supervision as the main reason such incidents have increased. There is majority support for holding parents criminally responsible for their children's gun-related violence.

     Safety in the School Yard
     The feeling of safety among California's parents of children under 18 years old (who will be referred to as "parents" from now on)--the group on the front lines when it comes to concerns about the security of their children--contrasts with their general perception that California's public schools are unsafe. A majority (53%) of this group said they feel the state's schools are not safe while 44% percent said they are. Californians overall were split 48% to 48% on this issue.
     In contrast, 67% of parents say their children are safe from violence at their own school while 23% say their children are unsafe. When asked if their own child had been the victim of violence (including threats or attacks with a gun or knife, fights and beatings, having objects thrown at them or taunted with epithets) during the past year, less than one in ten parents responded affirmatively, including 1% who said that their child had been threatened with a gun. Parents of teens--children between the ages of 12 and 17--responded similarly. Eleven percent said their child had been the victim of one of these types of violence, including 2% who said their child had been threatened with a gun.
     While the numbers of children who have been the victim of violence may be small, that represents more than 50,000 individual incidents of (possibly minor) violence in the state's schools last year. When added to media concentration on the sensational outbreaks of angry violence in schools, it is no wonder parents are feeling that the school system in general is not safe, even though they may not fear specifically for their own child's safety.
     Many schools have recently strengthened campus security in a variety of ways. A majority (58%) of parents of teens think that their own children's schools have undertaken just the right amount of security precautions such as installing metal detectors, increasing police presence on campus, counseling students and conducting emergency drills. A third (32%) of those parents feel that their children's schools have not gone far enough in this matter, and 3% claim they have gone too far. Among all parents, 55% said their children's schools have done just enough in their attempts to prevent future violence, 27% said they've not gone far enough in their efforts, and 4% said that schools have gone too far.
     Latino parents are less sanguine about security precautions taken by their children's schools--less than half (49%) said that the schools have gone far enough in their attempts to ensure the safety of students, while three in ten (30%) said the schools have not gone far enough. In contrast, six in ten (59%) white parents feel their children's schools are safe while only one in four (24%) say those schools have not gone far enough. (The poll's sample did not yield enough black or Asian parents for comparison in this survey.)
     This ethnic disparity of outlook may have something to do with economic status--four out of ten Latino parents have a household income under $20,000 a year, while 8% of their white counterparts are in that economic stratum. Children of such households may be attending schools stressed by financial concerns. (On the other hand, the recent school shootings did not occur in low-income or high-crime areas, they occurred in suburbs, so once again, perceptions and reality may be somewhat at odds.)
     Thirteen percent of parents said the security measures mentioned above are "very" effective, but the majority--another 60%--said they are "somewhat" effective. Nearly one in four (24%) of these parents said the measures are ineffective. The softness of that majority effectiveness figure perhaps reflects the knowledge that schools can only do so much to prevent violence among their young charges.
     This theory is borne out by the finding that a plurality of people, including parents, think parents must be held responsible for the increased number of violent incidents in our nation's schools. Twenty-nine percent of all Californians and one third (33%) of parents said parents not spending enough time with their children or teens is what is responsible for the increase in school violence. Twenty-six percent of state residents and 28% of parents said that parents not supervising children's activities is to blame. The influence of violence on TV and in movies was cited by 19% of residents and 17% of parents; the availability of guns by 9% each. Sixteen percent of Latino parents cited lack discipline in the home in addition to the other top mentions already listed.
     Sixty-five percent of all parents and a whopping eight in ten parents of teenagers said they had discussed school violence with their children after the shootings in Littleton Colorado. Asked if their children had ever mentioned someone at their school who might turn violent, 17% of parents and 21% of parents of teenagers said "yes." While these numbers may be inflated by the focus on this issue among schoolchildren and their teachers, it is still disturbing to find that one in five parents of teenagers have been told there is a potentially violent student attending their child's school.
     Parents take the heat for not spending enough time and not supervising their children and teens, but nearly seven in 10 (67%) parents of five to 11-year-olds and six in 10 parents of teens say they closely supervise their children's use of the Internet and video games. (The question defined supervision as personally monitoring their children's use of the Internet or using software filters to prevent them from visiting certain web pages, or watching children play video games, or disallowing certain types of video games.) Twenty percent of parents of teens volunteered that their children don't use the internet and video games and another 16% said they don't supervise their children in this way.
     When the supervising parents were asked if they had increased their watch over these activities as a result of the recent high school shootings, 12% of these parents of teens said they had.
     Similarly, 78% of parents of teens and 81% of all parents said they supervise what their children watch on TV and video. Ten percent of each group said their children don't watch TV and videos, and another 11% of parents of teens said they don't supervise those activities. Eight percent of all parents said they don't supervise their children's television and video watching.
     Generally, Californians would like to see parents held criminally responsible for their children's gun-related crimes. A slight majority (53%) agree that parents should shoulder the responsibility while 30% disagree and 13% said it depends on the individual case.
     Majorities of white (51% to 30%) and Latino (57% to 29%) respondents agreed with this idea, while black respondents were split. Just over half (52% to 29%) of parents agree, but parents of teens aren't so sure. A plurality of four in ten agree, but nearly as many (35%) say they disagree and another 16% said it should depend on the case.

     Most Important Problem Facing California
     Governor Gray Davis' political focus on education as a major issue in California is shared by parents and even more so by parents of teens. Forty-one percent of that group of parents mentioned education as the most important problem facing the state.After education, Californians and all parents mentioned crime the most often (15% each) and then immigration (13% and 10% respectively.) Parents of teens were more concerned with crime (16%) and gangs (12%) than immigration (9%).
     Latinos showed the most concern about gangs. When asked what they felt was the most important problem facing California, one out of five (21%) Latinos mentioned gangs--the same proportion that mentioned education (the top mention among all Californians at 34%.) It is possible that worry about gang activity in schools may be another reason for the feeling among Latinos that schools have not done enough to ensure their children's safety from violence.

     The Quality of California's Schools
     Californians continue to hold the state's schools in low esteem. Seven in ten Californians and 68% of the state's parents gave schools a rating of "fair" or "poor" for overall quality, while 26% of residents and 30% of parents rated them "excellent" or "good". Parents of teens were hardest on the state system, with nearly four in ten (37%) giving it the lowest rating of "poor". This perception has persisted for some time, despite attempts at school reform over the last few years--a Times poll conducted three years ago (November, 1997) found a very similar lack of enthusiasm among residents for the state's schools.
     The latest round of proposals to mend some of the school system's ills are highly popular, the poll found. Around three in four (73%) residents and parents (75%) alike approve of merit pay for above-average teachers, with over half (51% of residents and 56% of parents) favoring such a system strongly. One in five residents and 17% of parents don't favor rewarding teachers for above-average performance over the flat-scale seniority system that is in place now.
     There is overwhelming and across-the-board support among California residents for the slate of laws recently passed by the California legislature. These measures include peer review for teachers, requiring graduating students to pass an exam before being handed a diploma, enhanced reading instruction in elementary schools and state intervention in the lowest ranking schools. Nearly nine in ten (87%) Californians approve of the measures, with 62% saying they approve strongly.
     Vouchers are also popular, although support is less strong for a system that would allow parents to use tax funds to send their children to the school of their choice, even if it were a private school. Over half of residents (55%) and registered voters (51%) favor such a system. It is even more popular among parents--two thirds (66%) of that group favors the institution of a voucher system. Pockets of opposition to this otherwise popular scheme are to be found among Democrats (53% oppose to 40% favor) and self-described liberals (52% oppose to 41% favor.) Not surprisingly, the scheme is most popular among respondents who describe themselves as politically conservative. Seven in ten conservatives favor a voucher system while 22% oppose it. Moderates are split on the issue 48% favor to 45% oppose.
     When respondents were asked next if they favored or opposed a voucher system which would allow the tax funds to be used to send kids to religious private schools, the numbers remained stable, with a shift of approximately 4 percentage points away from their original vote in either direction. Californians who support the idea generally support it no matter how the funds will be applied.
     Half of all Californians believe a voucher system would be good for the state's school system while 36% said it would be bad for schools (14% said they weren't sure.) A plurality of whites (47%) and a solid majority of Latinos (59%) agreed that vouchers would be good for the state's schools. Four in ten white respondents, however, disagreed, compared to one in four (26%) Latinos who felt the system would be bad for schools. Black respondents tend toward the view that vouchers would be good for schools.

     Gun Control
     Generally speaking, Californians support stricter gun control laws and greater gun-safety measures as well as supporting a nationwide ban on assault weapons, but they put their collective foot down when it comes to banning handguns.
     Six in ten (61%) Californians think the state needs stricter gun control laws, including seven in ten Democrats, half of Independents (51%) and just over four in ten (43%) Republicans. Nearly as many Republicans (42%) think the current laws are just about right, while 35% of Independents and 22% of Democrats agree with that assessment. Under half (46%) of gun owners think the laws are just about right while 38% think they should be tightened.
     Californians also overwhelmingly support (89% favor to 8% oppose) legislation recently passed by the U.S. Senate which closes some loopholes to require background checks on all gun purchases. Not withstanding its broad-based support among various California factions (including 81% of Republicans, 95% of Democrats and 87% of gun owners), that legislation is currently in trouble in the House.
     State residents are also widely in favor of requiring trigger locks on all stored guns (80% favor to 16% oppose); banning gun sales by mail and over the internet (70% favor, 25% oppose); and would support a nationwide ban on assault weapons (78% favor to 19% oppose). Gun owners also support these proposals, with 68% favoring trigger locks, 66% favoring a ban on mail and internet sales, and 72% favoring a ban on assault weapons.
     Propose banning possession of handguns outright (with the exception of authorized persons such as law enforcement officers) however, and Californians take exception. Nearly six in ten residents (58%) oppose making such a move, while a 38% minority favor it. A sizeable majority (80%) of gun owners oppose such a measure with 18% support found among that group.
     In fact, the only majority support to be found for a handgun ban is found among Latinos, 54% of whom favor the idea while 43% oppose it. Whites oppose the ban 66% to 30%, while black respondents were split.
     Despite its often hard-line stance against gun control and gun safety measures, the NRA (National Rifle Association) is seen by only a bare majority (52%) of California residents has having too much influence over lawmakers in this country. Nearly one in four (24%) say the NRA has just the right amount of influence, and another 8% would like to see the organization exert more influence.
     Californians don't support the current trend of lawsuits such as those recently brought by Los Angeles and San Francisco against gun manufacturers in an attempt to recover municipal funds spent on dealing with gun-related violence. After being read arguments for and against such litigation, 53% of residents sided with those who say the suits are designed to put manufacturers out of business and take guns away from Americans. Nearly four in ten (39%) residents favor the cities' actions which are based on an argument that gun manufacturers should be doing more to prevent illegal gun sales such as those to minors and criminals, as well as installing safety features that would help prevent accidental shootings.

     Some Gun Owner Demographics
     Thirty-one percent of survey respondents said they own a firearm, or someone else in the household does, compared to approximately two out of five who have a gun in their household nationally.
     California's gun owners tend to be affluent--twice as many residents with household incomes over $60,000 (41%) have a firearm than do residents of households with incomes less than $20,000 (19%). Whites (36%) are more likely to own guns than either Latinos (20%) or blacks, who said they have a gun in their household in similar numbers to Latinos.
     Four in ten Republicans in California have a gun in their household (53% of GOP men and 31% GOP women), while around three in ten independents (31%) and Democrats (30%) are armed.
     Most residents (37%) said the main reason they keep a gun is for protection, followed by one quarter who use their gun(s) for hunting, 17% who do target practice, and 12% who collect firearms. Five percent use a gun for their job.
     Almost seven in ten residents who have a gun in their home said they keep either the gun or the ammunition locked up when not in use with 28% who said the guns are kept unlocked and accessible at all times.
     The great majority (78%) of gun owning parents say they have discussed guns and gun safety with their kids, but a troubling finding in the wake of the recent school shootings is just under a quarter (22%) of these parents said that guns and ammunition are unlocked and accessible in their homes.
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How the Poll Was Conducted

     The Times Poll contacted 1,602 adults statewide, including 566 parents with children under the age of 18, by telephone June 10 through June 14. Telephone numbers were chosen from a list of all exchanges in the state. Random-digit dialing techniques were used so that listed and unlisted numbers could be contacted. The entire sample was weighted slightly to conform with census figures for sex, race, age, education, region and voter registration. The margin of sampling error for the entire sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points; for parents it is 4 points. For certain subgroups the error margin may be somewhat higher. Poll results can also be affected by other factors such as question wording and the order in which questions are presented. The survey was conducted in English and Spanish.