Understanding the Political Divide in Gun Policy Support

Abstract

Political liberals and political conservatives endorse opposing views about how to reduce gun violence in the United States. Liberals support greater restrictions on who can purchase and carry firearms whereas conservatives oppose such restrictions. We tested eight explanations for the political divide in support for a specific policy: campus carry. Four explanations originate from researchers who argue—often with limited evidence—that liberals and conservatives differ in psychological tendencies, beliefs, and perceptions, and that these differences drive their opposing policy views (such as views on immigration). However, our analyses revealed little support for any of these explanations, with few or no differences between liberals and conservatives in intolerance of uncertainty, belief in a dangerous world, perceived relative power, or perceived government threat. Conservatives were more likely to endorse traditional views of masculinity, but views of masculinity did not explain greater opposition to gun restrictions among conservatives. Two explanations received some support: conservatives were more likely than liberals to perceive safety as a personal responsibility and to perceive gun ownership as part of their identity. These perceptions, in turn, corresponded with greater opposition to gun restrictions. The strongest explanation for the political divide on gun policy was that conservatives, compared with liberals, were more likely to view guns as a means to safety rather than a threat to safety. Viewing guns as a means to safety was strongly linked to opposing gun restrictions.