Notable survey results about violent crime perceptions and partisanship

<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/axios-Violent-Crime-2021">This new release</a> discusses the interesting (but not all that surprisng) results from an Axios/Ipsos poll conducted last week with a series of questions about perceptions of violent crime. Here are some of the details:</p> <blockquote> <p>A new Axios-Ipsos poll finds that Americans’ concern about crime is high, but for most it is a more abstract than immediate concern.&nbsp; For instance, three-quarters of Americans say they feel mostly or very safe when out in their communities, and among that one-quarter who report feeling less safe, only half cite crime as a major reason why (or about one in eight Americans).&nbsp; However, a majority of Americans feel violent crime is on the rise since last year&nbsp;—&nbsp;which is broadly accurate&nbsp;—&nbsp;but also feel it is higher than observed 30 years ago — which is incorrect.&nbsp; Potentially because concerns about crime are more abstract for most people, opinions about what to do about crime tend to fall along lines of national politics.&nbsp; Democrats broadly support gun control and investment in social services while Republicans support a more armed populace and more spending on police....</p> <p>There is some consensus on what steps could reduce gun violence and violent crime in the U.S. Just over six in ten (61%) Americans believe tighter gun laws would have an impact.</p> <p>A large majority believe increased funding to police (70%) would curb gun violence and violent crime, while nearly as many (63%) also believe diverting police budget to community policing and social services would do this.</p> <p>Over two thirds (68%) believe increased funding to social safety net programs would have an impact on combatting violent crime.</p> <p>However, partisanship is central to what and who Americans believe is the cause of increased violent crime and which solutions would be most impactful.&nbsp; Majorities of Republicans say Democrats in Congress (59%), reduced police funding (58%), and President Joe Biden (54%) are most responsible for increases in violent crime. Meanwhile, majorities of Democrats blame loose gun laws (54%) and rising gun sales (52%).&nbsp;</p> <p>When it comes to solutions, a majority of Republicans believe increased police funding (59%) would have a major impact on reducing violent crime compared to roughly a third of Democrats (31%).&nbsp; Conversely, a majority of Democrats (63%) think tighter gun control regulations and increased funding to social programs that combat poverty (54%) would have a major impact on reducing violent crime — compared to 16% and 18% of Republicans, respectively.</p> </blockquote>The full poll is <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2021-10/Topline%20Hard%20Truth%20Crime%20and%20Gun%20Violence%20Study_v3.pdf">available at this link</a>.</div> Via Law http://www.rssmix.com/