LOUDONVILLE, New York (WWNY) – Most New York voters approve of recent laws involving gun safety and abortion protections.
A poll by Siena College shows that more than three-quarters of voters say a new law requiring a permit to buy a semiautomatic rifle will be good for New York. The law says purchasers must be at least 21, pass a background check, and take a safety course.
Among those who approve at 67% of Republicans and 73% of gun owners.
“New Yorkers overwhelmingly support the bill passed by the legislature, signed by the governor at the end of session, to require a permit for getting a semi-automatic weapon,” said Steven Greenberg, Siena College pollster.
By a smaller 58-24% margin, voters say outlawing body armor for non-law enforcement will be good for the state.
Nearly 80 percent hope the U.S. Supreme Court does not overturn a decades-old law that requires a license to carry a concealed handgun.
Voters’ views about guns may be driven by how they view crime. Ninety-two percent say crime is a serious problem across the state, with 63% saying it’s very serious. Six in ten say they are concerned they could be a victim of a crime.
When it comes to abortion protections, 63% say that the recently passed law enhancing legal protections for those seeking or performing abortions in New York is a good idea. That includes a majority of voters from every region, gender, religion, and age group, as well as Democrats and independents. A 44% plurality of Republicans also think it will be good for the state.
Along the same lines, 60% of New Yorkers want the Supreme Court to uphold Roe v. Wade and throw out the Mississippi law that’s challenging it. Twenty-four percent want the court to overturn Roe.
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