MINNESOTA – Amid rumors Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will take executive action on guns this week, he highlighted a poll showing a majority of respondents back banning assault weapons like an AR-15.
Lumaris Research polled more than 1,100 Minnesota adults between September 25 and November 6.
Sixty-nine percent of respondents statewide support banning assault weapons while 28 percent oppose it. Sixty-two percent of respondents in Greater Minnesota support the ban while 37 oppose it.
Eighty-nine percent of respondents who identify as Democrats or whose beliefs lean democratic support the ban while 10 percent oppose it. Forty-six percent of Republicans or those whose beliefs lean Republican support the ban.
“It could not be any more clear that the public is demanding action on the assault weapons that have caused terror and heartbreak for our state,” Walz said in a press release. “I’m a lifelong hunter and gun owner, but there is no reason for anyone to have the ability to fire 119 rounds into a building full of children in a matter of seconds. With a divided legislature, we are going to need to see courage from Republican legislators in getting this done.”
“I don’t think there are any Republican House votes in favor of those kinds of proposals. (Governor Walz) has not acted as if he’s interested in bipartisan solutions to the problem of school safety, the problem of public safety, the problem of mental health,” Minnesota House Floor Leader State Representative Harry Niska said in September about possible gun control legislation.
On its website, Lumaris Research describes itself as independent and nonpartisan.
“We strive to strengthen Minnesota communities through rigorous survey research and focus groups. To do so, we use Minnesota Community Surveys conducted on our representative online survey panel of Minnesota adults,” the about section of Lumaris’ website reads.
