Hank Silverberg, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Virginians are overwhelmingly against any provision that would allow guns on college campuses and they oppose any legislative attempt to pass a so call “personhood” amendment, which would define life as beginning at conception.
Those findings in the latest Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday. The poll, taken just a week after the most recent shooting at Virginia Tech University, found 75 percent were against guns on campus while 20 percent favored lifting the ban.
At the same time, 50 percent said protecting gun rights is more important that controlling gun ownership and 62 percent oppose repealing a state law limiting handgun purchases to one a month.
The poll also shows 58 percent oppose “personhood” legislation, which would be similar to a law recently rejected by Mississippi voters. 32 percent favor it.
State residents are evenly split on uranium mining in the state with 41 percent in favor and 41 percent against it.
One other key finding in the poll taken earlier this month: 48 percent say any state budget deficit should be eliminated by spending cuts rather than raising taxes.
The poll sampled 1,135 Virginians across the state and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percent.
The poll also tracked favorability ratings for elected officials in the state:
- Governor Bob McDonnell – 53-29 favorable
- U.S. Sen. Mark Warner – 62-23 favorable
- U.S. Sen. Jim Webb – 48 – 29 favorable
- Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling – 35 – 18 favorable, with 46 percent undecided
- State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli – 47 – 27 percent favorable
- Va. State Legislature – 46 – 36 percent favorable
You can find the complete poll on Quinnipiac’s website.
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