Institute

Florida Results Presented in Context with Answers from 1,000 Adults Nationally
Support for Black Lives Matter Grew Markedly from 2016 to 2017
Overall Public Confidence in Criminal Courts and Juries Appears Muted

ST. LEO, FL – Surveys by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute (http://polls.saintleo.edu) show a pattern with somewhat more than 50 percent of the population espousing high levels of trust in police and police departments in America, while a persistent population of 20 to nearly 24 percent over three years reporting that they have little to no trust and confidence in departments and officers.

Also, the most recent survey in the series shows that as of September 2017, 90.5 percent nationally somewhat agree or strongly agree that police officers should be required to wear body cameras “to better assist reviewing difficult incidents.”  This question had 86.8 percent somewhat and strongly agreeing in 2015, and 89 percent in 2016.

The Saint Leo University Polling Institute asked these questions, along with many others, concerning trust in policing and the criminal justice system during its wide-ranging national fall poll of 1,000 respondents. The survey was conducted from September 10 to September 16. The polling institute also surveyed 500 Florida respondents separately, but during the same time frame.

The polling institute has consistently visited this broad area of public concerns in its fall poll, beginning in 2015. With some specific topics, one or two questions have been added to keep pace with developing events. The margin of error for the polls is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the national sample, and 4.5 for the Florida sample, meaning the results could be off by that many percentage points in either direction. Generally, Florida (the home of Saint Leo University Polling Institute) mirrored […]

Each year in its fall poll, the Saint Leo University Polling Institute, has asked 1,000 or more adult respondents nationally about their attitudes on guns, gun control legislation, and possible policy responses to mass shootings. The margin of error on these surveys is plus or minus 3 percentage points. The most recent survey was fielded from September 10 to September 16, 2017.

Support / Oppose Gun Controls –Questions as Asked and Responses over Three Years (polling institute was launched in late 2013)

Please think for a moment about your own position and beliefs about gun control. Which one of the following best reflects your own, personal position on gun control?

Choose one statement
September 2017
2016
2015

There should be no regulations or controls on any firearms
13.1%
12.6%
12.8%

There should be some limited licensing, permitting or some restrictions on certain arms such as assault weapons
71.8%
74.9%
73.2%

Firearms should not be owned privately
9.6%
8.1%
8.5%

Unsure
5.5%
4.4%
5.5%

Which of the following, given the number of mass shootings nationwide, best reflects your own personal position toward gun ownership and gun regulation?

Choose One Statement
September 2017
2016
2015

I continue to support gun ownership rights under the 2nd Amendment without exception and believe these mass shootings would be less frequent/horrific if more citizens were armed
23%
27.2%
26.5%

I continue to support gun ownership rights under the 2nd Amendment without exception but don’t believe in an effort to arm more citizens
15.9%
16.3%
15.9%

I support gun ownership rights but am open to more exceptions, regulations and restrictions
45%
42.6%
40.7%

I continue to oppose private ownership of firearms
9.5%
7.2%
9.1%

Unsure
6.6%
6.7%
7.8%

Government, on the state and federal levels, can increase funding and support for mental health treatment. How helpful would increased funding and emphasis on mental health treatment be toward reducing the number and frequency of mass shootings? Would you say…

One choice allowed
September 2017
2016
2015

Very helpful
35.3%
37.9%
36.7%

Somewhat helpful
38.2%
39.1%
38.5%

Not very helpful
13.4%
12.4%
11.3%

Not at all helpful
3.7%
3.1%
3.5%

Unsure
9.4%
7.5%
10%

New question […]

Nearly Two-Thirds Say to Offspring: Wait Until High School to Play the Sport
ST. LEO, FL – A majority of Americans say youths should not play contact football, according to a new survey by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute survey. The nonpartisan poll (http://polls.saintleo.edu) was conducted online among 1,000 American adults from September 10 through September 16.

The hard knocks and multiple concussions that football players often suffer during games and practice are cause for concern. Recent research showed that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was found in the brains of more than 100 former professional NFL players, some of whom committed suicide. The findings were published in July in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers from Boston University examined the brains of 202 deceased football players. The brains were donated to the program. CTE was “neuropathologically diagnosed in 177 players across all levels of play (87 percent), including 110 of 111 former National Football League players (99 percent),” The Journal of the AMA reported. The researchers noted that CTE may be related to prior participation in football.

Symptoms of CTE include confusion, memory loss, anger, depression, and even dementia. The issues can occur years after receiving the blows to the head.

The Saint Leo University Polling Institute introduced the topic as follows:

“Recent studies have suggested that youth, at elementary or middle school age, playing or practicing football are suffering from increased numbers of spine and neck injuries, concussions and even elevated risk for heart attacks in otherwise healthy young people.  One recent study showed 7-year-olds are receiving ‘adult sized impacts’ when playing or practicing football.”

Poll respondents were asked four questions regarding youth football and concussions:

In general would you say you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or […]

Frustration apparent with Affordable Care Act repeal/reform efforts
ST. LEO, FL – A September survey conducted by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute (http://polls.saintleo.edu) found President Donald Trump’s approval rating nationally still in the low 40-percentage rage, close to where it was in March 2017, when the polling institute last asked American adults to rate the president.

A survey of 1,000 adults conducted September 10 through September 16 asked whether respondents strongly approved, somewhat approved, somewhat disapproved, or strongly disapproved of the job Trump is doing as president. Those strongly approving were 20.2 percent, and somewhat approving were 22.6 percent, creating an overall approval rating of 42.8 percent. That is a just a bit more than a point lower than the rating of 44.1 percent recorded six months previously—statistically not significant—so essentially Trump’s rating did not improve.

In Florida, where 500 respondents were polled separately, Trump’s approval rating slipped from 48.7 percent in March to 43.1 percent in September.

Biggest Worries and Specific Job Approval Categories
Survey respondents were asked to use the same scale of possible approval ratings on specific areas of the president’s job performance. Trump continued to get combined approval ratings of more than 60 percent nationally and above 69 percent in Florida for supporting troops and the military—the area where he scored highest.

But he slipped in a category with a general label of “keeping his campaign promises” by 11 points nationally, from 52.1 percent in March to 41 percent in September. In Florida, the decline was from 57 percent to 46.8 percent.

Approval of his performance in revamping the Affordable Care Act slipped nationally from 46.7 percent in March to 38.9 percent in September. That follows the president’s active entry into the debate on health care, noted […]

Types of symbols cited in question include statues, plaques, memorabilia
ST. LEO, FL – A new survey by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute (http://polls.saintleo.edu) about Americans’ attitudes about contemporary political topics revealed stark divisions in views about Confederate symbols and history.

The nonpartisan survey was conducted online among 1,000 American adults from September 10 through September 16. A parallel poll was conducted among 500 adults during the same time period in Florida, the home of Saint Leo University and the Saint Leo University Polling Institute.

The survey revisited questions asked in March 2017 on political divisions among the population, and levels of public approval of the new Trump administration (see related press releases) to track views over time. In addition, because of recent controversies in several cities, two questions were added in September on views on the Confederate era and reminders of the Confederacy.

Looking at the country as a whole, about as many people favor removing Confederate symbols from public areas as oppose the idea: a 43.4 percent said they strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with removing Confederate statues, plaques, or memorabilia from public areas. Another 47.7 percent strongly disagreed or somewhat disagreed with the idea.

Given the national poll sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points (meaning the results could be off in either direction by that much), the two sides are roughly equal in number.

People polled in former Confederate states reflected the national trend.

A separate and parallel poll of Florida residents also tended to reflect the national pattern.

Within the national poll results, however, more differences are evident in comparing responses of the most populous racial and ethnic groups (The sample is drawn to accurately reflect the racial composition of America). […]