Virginia voters are clearly signaling that policy should target criminals rather than penalize law-abiding gun owners.
Poll snapshot
New polling from Quantus Insights shows a politically dissatisfied electorate that remains largely confident about personal safety and strongly supportive of Second Amendment protections.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s approval rating sits at 32% with 64% disapproving.
Republicans disapprove by 88.1% and Independents by 80.7%.
Democrats approve at 63.8%.
Personal safety
Most Virginians report feeling safe in their communities.
Women report feeling safe at 72.9% and men at 71.0%.
Democrats express the highest sense of security at 82.8%.
Independents are at 64.7% and Republicans at 66.7%.
Second Amendment views
The poll finds broad agreement that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to own a firearm.
Republicans agree at 92.0%, Independents at 90.8%, and Democrats at 71.2%.
By gender, 86.0% of men and 82.2% of women agree.
Carry rights and self-defense
Support narrows for the right to carry for self-defense outside the home but remains substantial among non-Democrats.
Republicans agree at 82.6% and Independents at 75.8%.
Democrats split, with 39.7% agreeing and 55.3% disagreeing.
Men support carry rights at 71.2% compared with 58.9% of women.
Responsibility and solutions
The survey’s most decisive finding centers on responsibility for gun violence, with voters across parties pointing to offenders rather than firearms.
Ninety-five point seven percent of Republicans, 94.1% of Independents, and 82.3% of Democrats say “the criminal” is responsible.
By gender, 91.1% of men and 89.5% of women agree.
Majorities also say criminals pose a greater threat than firearms themselves, with Republicans at 91.8% and Independents at 90.1%.
Democrats are more divided on that point at 52.7%.
Women are more likely than men to say firearms are dangerous on their own, 25.0% versus 15.5%.
When asked what would most reduce crime, voters favor tougher enforcement over new regulations.
Judges delivering tougher sentencing is the top choice, selected by 46.9% of Republicans, 48.9% of Independents, and 21.8% of Democrats.
Prosecution of existing laws draws 33.1% of Republicans and 24.6% of Independents.
Support for more laws regulating firearms is concentrated among Democrats at 33.3%, compared with 7.3% of Independents and 5.0% of Republicans.
Men lean more heavily toward sentencing and prosecution, while women show somewhat greater support for new gun laws.
Bottom line
The results point to a consistent theme that Virginians want consequences for criminals prioritized over expanded firearm restrictions.
With Spanberger’s approval at 32% and disapproval at 64%, the poll suggests further tightening of gun laws could face stiff resistance from a skeptical electorate.
