Poll: Half of Californians believe stricter gun laws may have prevented Vegas massacre

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- About half of Californians believe that stricter gun control laws could have prevented the mass shooting in Las Vegas, according to a new statewide poll.

The poll by Survey USA, which was conducted exclusively for Eyewitness News, found that 47 percent of Californians believe stricter gun control laws could have prevented the massacre; 33 percent said stricter laws would not have prevented the shooting; and 20 percent were not sure.

If more concertgoers had been armed, would that have made the situation better, worse or made no difference? According to the survey, 9 percent said better; 41 percent said worse; 43 percent said it would not have made a difference; and 7 percent were not sure.

On the overall issue of owning guns, 61 percent of Californians believe controlling gun ownership is more important than the right of Americans to own guns. About a third of Californians placed importance on the flip side, believing the right to own a gun is more important than controlling gun ownership.

Are laws on gun ownership too strict or not strict enough? The survey found that 68 percent of Californians believe gun laws are not strict enough; 9 percent believe they're too strict; 15 percent believe they're just right; and 9 percent were not sure.

Here is a complete list of all of the questions and results from the survey:

What do you think is more important -- to protect the right of Americans to own guns, or to control gun ownership?

31% Right To Own

61% Control Ownership

8% Not Sure

Are federal laws on gun ownership too strict? Not strict enough? Or just about right?

9% Too Strict

68% Not Strict Enough

15% Just About Right

9% Not Sure

What do you think is the best way to reduce gun violence in this country: by passing stricter gun control laws, or by stricter enforcement of existing laws?

48% Passing Stricter Laws

41% Stricter Enforcement Of Existing

11% Not Sure

Does widespread gun ownership protect law abiding citizens from crime? Or make society more dangerous?

39% Protects Citizens

47% Makes Society Dangerous

14% Not Sure

Should criminal background checks be required for every person who wants to purchase a firearm? Or not?

93% Should

4% Should Not

2% Not Sure

Should gun owners have to register with the state or local government and provide a set of fingerprints? Or Not?

83% Should

11% Should Not

5% Not Sure

Would you support? ... or oppose? ... a law that would prevent people with mental illness from purchasing guns?

84% Support

6% Oppose

10% Not Sure

Would you support? ... or oppose? ... a law requiring a nationwide ban on semi-automatic weapons, which automatically load the next bullet after a shot is fired?

69% Support

18% Oppose

13% Not Sure

Would you support? ... or oppose? ... a law that limits how much ammunition a gun can hold at once?

69% Support

19% Oppose

12% Not Sure

Would you support ... or oppose ... a law that limits how much ammunition can be purchased at one time?

72% Support

18% Oppose

10% Not Sure

Do you think stricter gun control laws could have prevented the shootings in Las Vegas?

47% Yes

33% No

20% Not Sure

After the events in Las Vegas, are you worried ... a lot? A little? Or not at all ... about attending public events?

40% A Lot

38% A Little

18% Not At All

4% Not Sure

If more people in the crowd in Las Vegas had been armed, would that have made the situation .... Better? ... Worse? ... Or would it not have made any difference?

9% Better

41% Worse

43% No Difference

7% Not Sure

Based upon what you know so far, do you think that the gunman in Las Vegas acted alone? Or did he have help from others?

50% Acted Alone

25% Had Help

25% Not Sure