Sooner Survey: Oklahoma Pit Bull Ban, November 25, 2005

A PUBLICATION OF COLE HARGRAVE SNODGRASS & ASSOCIATES NOVEMBER 2005

VOLUME 15 - NUMBER 6

Voters Call on Legislature to Stop Vicious Dog Attacks Only 8% Say “Do Nothing” by Pat McFerron Director of Survey Research

Oklahomans are concerned about attacks by malicious dogs -- and they are passionate about the issue. When initially presented with the option of placing a statewide ban on Pit Bull Terriers, voters are very supportive of the idea; however, when presented with other options on how to deal with the problem of Pit Bull attacks, respondents, while not opposed to a ban, prefer increasing civil and criminal penalties for those owners whose dogs attack rather than an outright ban of a particular breed. The Sooner Survey initially asked 500 Oklahoma voters whether or not they were in favor of a proposal to ban Pit Bull Terriers statewide. A majority of respondents favored a ban (55% favor vs. 35% oppose), with 44% of those surveyed saying they were “strongly” in favor of the proposal. The idea of a ban is popular among virtually all demographic breakdowns initially, and surprisingly, given the nature of the dog’s propensity to attack children, a ban is more popular among those without children in their home (56% favor vs. 34% oppose) than those with children under 18 living under their roof (52% favor vs. 40% oppose). As might be expected, urban residents are more supportive of a ban (56% favor), but even in the rural parts of the state, support for banning Pit Bulls exceeds 50% (54% favor). Among the 65% of voters who consider themselves to be conservative in

Key Facts • A ban on Pit Bulls is popular among virtually all demographic groups.

nature, the proposal would pass rather easily (57% favor vs. 35% oppose). Among registered Republicans, the proposal succeeds by a 52%-favor-to-36%-oppose margin, and among registered Democrats, the proposal wins by an even greater rate (58% favor vs. 34% oppose). Senior citizens are actually the most adamant about having a ban enacted (62% favor a ban; 50% strongly favor). Perhaps most important to political figures looking at their own prospects is the fact that a ban on Pit Bulls is strongly endorsed by Democrats who supported President Bush in the last election (55% favor ban vs. 35% oppose), those undecided on a generic gubernatorial ballot (50% favor ban vs. 37% oppose), and Democrats who attend church on a regular basis (60% favor ban vs. 29% oppose). These three groups are critical to electoral success in Oklahoma. (continued on page 2)

• A ban is popular among three critical swing voting blocs in Oklahoma - Bush Democrats, Undecided Generic Gubernatorial Democrats, and Democrats who attend church on a regular basis.

• While Oklahomans as a whole would support a ban on Pit Bulls, they actually would prefer strengthening a law against all owners of dogs that attack, regardless of their breed.

• Virtually every demographic group, ranging from parents, to senior citizens, all corners of the state and all income levels, supports increasing penalties on owners of dogs that attack.

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SOONER SURVEY

(Continued from page 1)

While Oklahomans as a whole would support a ban on Pit Bulls, they actually would prefer strengthening a law against owners of all dogs that attack, regardless of their breed. When asked what their preferred action would be among several options, most respondents favored increasing penalties to those owners of malicious dogs (49%) rather than an outright ban on the dogs (12%), while an additional 25% favored taking both courses of action. When totaled, it is clearly seen that 74% of Oklahomans favor stiffer penalties for attack dogs, while 37% favor banning the particular breed of Pit Bulls. This is not to say that a ban would be unpopular, but rather that an acrossthe-board penalty system is preferred. Perhaps the most important finding is that only 8% of respondents believe that nothing should be done in response to attacks perpetrated by Pit Bulls and other breeds of dogs. This issue transcends party lines. A super-majority of registered Republicans favors increasing penalties on those

owners whose dogs attack (78% — 54% penalties only; 24% penalties and ban on Pit Bulls), while 35% favored a ban in some form (24% ban with penalties; 11% ban only). Only 7% of those in the GOP favored doing nothing in response. Among Democrats, 71% say increase penalties (44% penalties only, 27% penalties and a ban on Pit Bulls) while 9% say do nothing. Virtually every demographic group, ranging from parents, to senior citizens, all corners of the state and all income levels, supports increasing penalties on owners of dogs that attack. Although Drew Edmondson has recently stated that municipalities cannot legally ban specific dog breeds in the state according to a 1991 statute (S.B. 87), a statewide ban passed by the state legislature remains a possibility. Those who love Pit Bulls would be wise to support very tough civil and criminal penalties on the owners of dogs who attack while the public still supports this less drastic action. !

Statewide Ban on Pit Bulls by Groups 70% 60%

Favor

58%

60% 56%

55%

54%

52%

49%

50% 40%

Oppose

42%

35%

36%

35%

36%

34%

30%

30% 20% 10% 0% All

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Men

Women Urban Rural SOONER SURVEY

Rep

Dem

NOVEMBER 2005

Statewide Ban on Pitbulls by Ideology 60%

56%

58%

50% 40%

48% 45%

48%

45% 44%

39%

30% 20%

33%

35%

Favor

Oppose

10% 0% Strongly Liberal

Somewhat Liberal

Moderate

Somewhat Conservative

Strongly Conservative

Pat McFerron is a nationally recognized pollster who has been with Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates since 1993. He has supervised polling numbers for numerous successful gubernatorial, U.S. Senate, Congressional and legislative clients throughout the nation. In addition, McFerron conducted polling for Oklahoma’s Right-to-Work campaign, Oklahoma City’s MAPS for Kids, Tulsa’s Vision 2025, Fortune 500 companies, and many local and legislative campaigns.

Support For Ban and/or Increasing Penalties 80% 60% 40% 20%

79%

74% 37%

78%

70% 35%

39%

71% 35%

40%

0% All - All - Ban Urban - Urban - Rural - Rural Rep - Rep - Ban DemIncrease Increase Ban Increase Ban Increase Increase Penalties Penalties Penalties Penalties Penalties

DemBan 3

SOONER SURVEY

Sooner Survey: The Pit Bull Questions 1. It has been proposed that a statewide ban be placed on the dog breed of Pit Bull Terriers. Would you favor or oppose such a ban? (After response, ask:) Do you strongly or only somewhat (favor / oppose) a ban? Strongly Favor ................................. 44% Somewhat Favor ............................. 11% Somewhat Oppose ........................... 18% Strongly Oppose .............................. 17% Undecided (vol.) .............................. 10% 2. Some people say… While other people say… (Rotate arguments) …that Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous and vicious. They say that the very nature of the breed makes it dangerous to keep, especially in areas where they might be exposed to children, mailpersons, and/or water meter readers. They say this breed of dog has no use in today’s society and should be banned. …that the owners are to blame for the attitude and nature of a dog, and if trained and brought up properly, a pit bull is no more dangerous than any other dog. They say that to better protect people from vicious dogs, we should have tougher civil and criminal penalties on the owners of all dogs that attack people, not just pit bulls. What do you think? Do you think nothing should be done, that Pit Bulls should be banned in Oklahoma, that penalties need to be increased on owners of dogs that attack, or do you think Pit Bulls should be banned and penalties should be increased? Do nothing................................................................ 8% Ban Pit Bulls ............................................................ 12% Increase penalties ..................................................... 49% Ban Pit Bulls and increase penalties.......................... 25% Undecided (vol.) ....................................................... 6%

This edition of the Sooner Survey was taken between August 8 - 11, 2005. It was a telephone survey of 500 registered voters in Oklahoma. The sample accurately reflects the electorate of the state. The confidence interval associated with a sample of this type is such that 95% of the time, the results are within +/-4.3% of the “true values,” where “true values” refer to the results obtained if it were possible to interview every voter in the state. The Sooner Survey is published twelve times a year by Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates, Inc., (405) 415-3017. Subscriptions are $240 per year.

The Authoritative Newsletter of Oklahoma Political Information Since 1989

A Publication of Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates Post Office Box 2034 Oklahoma City, OK 73101

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