Communities of Color Research Results
Fielded February 22-28, 2016
Among 1200 likely 2016 voters nationwide, 600 African
Americans and 600 Hispanics

Baseline Views on Safety & Gun Violence
Next, I'm going to read you a list of phrases, and after each one, please tell me how much of a
problem you think each one is. Please use a 5-point scale where 5 means it's an extremely serious
problem and 1 means that it's not a problem at all.

How much of a problem is gun violence in America today?
African
Americans

Hispanics

1 - Not a problem at all

1%

2%

2-

1%

5%

3-

6%

14%

4-

11%

24%

5 - Extremely serious problem

80%

54%

Don't Know

0%

1%

How much of a problem is police misconduct in America today?
African
Americans

Hispanics

1 - Not a problem at all

3%

7%

2-

7%

13%

3-

20%

30%

4-

19%

25%

5 - Extremely serious problem

50%

24%

Don't Know

1%

1%

©2016 Benenson Strategy Group, All Rights Reserved -- 1

 How much of a problem is the incarceration rate in America today?
African
Americans

Hispanics

1 - Not a problem at all

3%

2%

2-

1%

7%

3-

12%

18%

4-

12%

26%

5 - Extremely serious problem

69%

43%

Don't Know

3%

4%

©2016 Benenson Strategy Group, All Rights Reserved -- 2

 Policy
Next I'm going to read you a list of proposals to reduce gun violence in America. After each one,
please tell me whether you support or oppose the proposal.
Require everyone to pass a background check before buying a gun, no matter where they buy it,
including online gun sales, private gun sales and sales at gun shows.
African
Americans

Hispanics

Strongly support

87%

90%

Somewhat support

5%

4%

Somewhat oppose

2%

2%

Strongly oppose

5%

3%

Don't know

0%

.

SUPPORT

92%

94%

OPPOSE

7%

6%

Increase funding for job training, life skills support, and mental health and drug abuse counseling for
people returning to the community after they've served their time in prison.
African
Americans

Hispanics

Strongly support

83%

68%

Somewhat support

11%

21%

Somewhat oppose

2%

3%

Strongly oppose

3%

6%

Don't know

1%

1%

SUPPORT

93%

89%

OPPOSE

5%

10%

©2016 Benenson Strategy Group, All Rights Reserved -- 3

 Reduce the likelihood of gun violence by addressing the root causes of crime by investing in
community programs including job training, mental health services and programs specifically for
young people.
African
Americans

Hispanics

Strongly support

82%

78%

Somewhat support

12%

15%

Somewhat oppose

2%

3%

Strongly oppose

3%

3%

Don't know

1%

1%

SUPPORT

94%

93%

OPPOSE

5%

6%

Strengthen accountability for police officers by implementing civilian review boards, body cameras
for police officers, and the ability for police chiefs to fire officers who repeatedly exhibit racial bias.
African
Americans

Hispanics

Strongly support

80%

74%

Somewhat support

11%

19%

Somewhat oppose

3%

3%

Strongly oppose

4%

3%

Don't know

2%

1%

SUPPORT

91%

93%

OPPOSE

8%

6%

Require individuals to notify law enforcement if their gun is lost or stolen to crack down on the
amount of illegal guns on our streets.
African
Americans

Hispanics

Strongly support

80%

70%

Somewhat support

11%

20%

Somewhat oppose

4%

5%

Strongly oppose

5%

4%

Don't know

1%

1%

SUPPORT

90%

90%

OPPOSE

9%

9%

©2016 Benenson Strategy Group, All Rights Reserved -- 4

 Create stiffer penalties for people who sell guns illegally to keep guns off our streets.
African
Americans

Hispanics

Strongly support

79%

74%

Somewhat support

9%

17%

Somewhat oppose

5%

3%

Strongly oppose

7%

5%

Don't know

1%

0%

SUPPORT

87%

91%

OPPOSE

12%

8%

©2016 Benenson Strategy Group, All Rights Reserved -- 5