In addition, 67% of Red state voters support federal legislation that would allow citizens with permits to legally carry firearms in the 39 states that have reciprocal agreements for concealed carry permits. A majority of Green state voters (61%) also support such legislation, as do 50% of Blue state voters.
A majority of voters nationwide (61%) also support changing the law in many states to allow people to use firearms inside and outside their homes in self-defense, without any stipulation that requires they first attempt to retreat from their attacker. In Red states, 62% of voters support such a change to the law, as do 64% of Green state voters and 53% of Blue state voters. A 46% plurality of voters who have never owned a firearm also support changing the law.
There’s more bad news for the President on the Supreme Court front. A 51% majority of all voters would support a Republican filibuster to block the appointment of a liberal justice who would alter the current balance of the Court. Note that the Supreme Court has recently issued a number of close 5-4 decisions, including upholding the individual right to own a firearm. Among Red state voters, 59% would support a filibuster of a liberal appointee to the Court, as would 56% of Green state voters. Only in Blue states do we see opposition for a filibuster, and it’s tepid at best, 47% would oppose it while 44% would support it. Only 34% of Red state voters and 35% of Green state voters would oppose a filibuster.
While the Brady Campaign and other far-left interest groups are chomping at the bit for the President to restrict the rights of gun owners, the fact is they are peddling overwhelmingly unpopular policies. No doubt the Obama administration is keenly aware that any new gun control laws would further sink the President’s approval rating, as well as Democrats’ chances in the next election. The trouble for Obama is that he needs to appease his far-left base on this issue, and he may not be able to hold them off through 2012.