By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
A new Rasmussen survey reveals that likely American voters give Republicans a five-point edge (45%) in their ability to handle crime and law enforcement issues over Democrats (40%), although 15 percent say they’re “not sure.”
The same survey says 80 percent of likely voters are concerned about the crime problem, up from 77 percent last October. This number includes 47 percent who are “very concerned,” according to Rasmussen.
The survey of 1,088 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on Feb. 5 and 8-9, by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
The high concern about crime might be one factor in the continued interest in gun buying, and the number of active concealed carry permits and licenses, reported at more than 20 million by the Crime Prevention Research Center. While the CPRC acknowledges this has slide back from the more than 21 million in the past, the explanation for this could easily be that previously-licensed citizens living in the 29 states which have adopted “constitutional carry” laws no longer feel the need to renew.
There is no way to accurately estimate the number of armed private citizens in those states.
The Rasmussen survey shows 83 percent of Republicans trust their party more to handle crime and law enforcement issues, compared to 78 percent of Democrats who trust their own party more on the issue. Among Independent voters, 40 percent trust Republicans and 32 percent trust Democrats more to handle crime and law enforcement issues, while 28 percent are not sure.
“Voters who are Very Concerned about the problem of violent crime in America trust Republicans more than Democrats by a 25-point margin, 57% to 32%,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen is also noting, “President Donald Trump’s administration has highlighted a decrease in crime last year, saying he ‘took office on a promise to restore public safety — and he has delivered in historic fashion.’”
Forty-two percent believe stricter immigration enforcement helps reduce violent crime, but 46 percent disagree and 11 percent are not sure, the Rasmussen poll revealed. The veteran polling firm also found that more Republicans (58%) than Democrats (46%) or unaffiliated voters (36%) say they’re Very Concerned about the violent crime problem.”
Thirty percent (30%) of all Likely Voters believe that, in the past year, the problem of violent crime has gotten better, but 34% think it’s gotten worse and 31% say the crime problem has stayed about the same, Rasmussen said.
