UW survey finds divergent views on abortion rights and guns

A new survey from the University of Wyoming shows that there is a wide range of opinions among Wyoming residents on abortion rights, reflecting nuanced views across the state.

The survey shows that 11 percent of Wyoming residents believe abortion should never be allowed. Meanwhile, 31 percent support allowing abortion only in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger, highlighting a conditional approach to the issue.

In addition, 30 percent believe that abortion should be allowed in situations beyond rape, incest and danger to the mother, provided the need is clearly established. This perspective suggests a more situational approach, emphasizing careful consideration of circumstances.

Conversely, 39 percent of respondents believe that women should always have access to abortions as a matter of personal choice.

The statewide survey was conducted from September 24 through October. 27, which generated 739 responses from randomly selected Wyoming residents. The margin of error for the distribution of responses to each individual survey question is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. Men and women from all age groups and all counties in Wyoming are proportionally represented in the survey data. The final survey data is weighted to reflect the true population distribution in Wyoming in terms of gender, age, state of residence, party affiliation, and education.

Among self-identified Republicans, the most common response is that abortions are only allowed in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger: 43 percent. The second most common response among Republicans is that abortion should always be allowed as a matter of personal choice, at 22 percent.

Preferences are much more consistent among self-identified Democrats, as 86 percent believe abortion should always be allowed as a matter of personal choice.

“Wyoming residents exhibit a broad spectrum of views on abortion rights, reflecting deeply nuanced and personal perspectives,” said Ryan Williamson, assistant professor of political science at UW.

Gun control measures

The UW survey also sheds light on the varying perspectives among Wyoming residents regarding gun control measures, reflecting both support and opposition to various proposals.

A notable 58 percent of Wyoming residents support the idea of ​​requiring firearm sales to be reported and recorded, while 28 percent oppose the measure. This indicates that a majority is in favor of greater supervision of arms transactions.

When it comes to licensing requirements, 49 percent of respondents believe that requiring a license to purchase or possess firearms or ammunition is a good idea, compared to 39 percent who view it as unfavorable, indicating that opinions are divided are about adding regulatory measures to gun ownership.

When it comes to gun-free zones, 36 percent think eliminating these zones is beneficial, while 43 percent disagree, underscoring debates over the safety and accessibility of firearms in specific areas.

“Questions about gun control in Wyoming underscore an apparent desire to strike a balance between safety measures and the protection of individual rights,” says Williamson.

Biennial surveys of Wyoming residents are conducted by UW’s School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies in collaboration with the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center. The questions focus on attitudes toward government, elected officials, candidates for office, and contemporary policy issues. Questions about the survey can be directed to [email protected].

A top report with methodological overview and complete survey results can be found at https://wysac.uwyo.edu/wysac/projects/weys24/.

A random sample of all cell and landline telephones was generated for the UW study. Selected respondents were contacted via email, mail, and telephone to complete the survey. 59 percent of responses came via the internet and the remaining 41 percent via the live interviewer telephone (92 percent mobile).

“This approach to survey methodology gives every person in Wyoming with a phone an equal opportunity to be selected for the survey,” said Brian Harnisch, director of the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center. “Survey respondents accurately reflect the statewide population in terms of broad demographic characteristics, including age, gender and state of residence, as well as other measures such as party affiliation and education level.”