KPIX 5 Poll: Californians Say Gun Control More Important Than Gun Rights

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- Half of all Californians believe it is more important to control gun ownership than it is to protect the rights of American citizens to own guns, according to a KPIX-TV poll released Thursday evening.

The poll found that while 50% said gun control trumped gun rights, 43% disagreed.

Much like national polling on the topic of background checks, the KPIX poll found overwhelming support among Californians for it. Requiring background checks for every person who wants to purchase a firearm had the support of 86% of those surveyed.

RELATED CONTENT: Download The Complete KPIX 5 Poll Results Data (.pdf)

But the poll produced two other interesting - and perhaps ironic - findings: Half of Californians think stricter enforcement of existing gun laws would reduce gun violence better than passing new, stricter gun control laws; 43% felt the opposite way. Also 46% think widespread gun ownership protects law-abiding citizens from crime, while 43% think it makes society more dangerous.

The KPIX poll was conducted by the firm SurveyUSA, which questioned 500 California adults on Thursday. The poll has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.5%.

(Copyright 2013 CBS San Francisco. All rights reserved.)