Gun control backed in survey; many fear mass shootings

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Most Californians worry that a mass shooting will occur in their community and want their government to do more to regulate guns in the wake of deadly rampages in Connecticut and Colorado, according to a survey by the Public Policy Institute of California.

The survey released Wednesday night found that 65% of Californians agree that ‘government does not do enough to regulate access to guns,’ while 31% say government goes too far in restricting the rights of citizens to own guns.

Two-thirds of Californians support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons. California already outlaws those guns.

‘Strong majorities of Californians want the government to do more about regulating guns, and many worry that a mass shooting could happen in their own communities,’ said Mark Baldassare, president and chief executive officer of the nonpartisan institute.

Asked if they worry that a mass shooting could occur in their community, 35% said they worry a great deal and 26% ‘worry somewhat,’’ while 20% do not worry much and 18% don’t worry at all.

The survey found that Latinos (79%) and women (70%) are much more likely to be worried than whites (44%) and men (52%) about a mass shooting in their community.

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--Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

Photo: Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), looks at a semiautomatic rifle during a joint legislative informational hearing over gun control at the Capitol in Sacramento this week. Credit: Steve Yeater / Associated Press