Red Iowa Survey: 75% Support Armed Guards in Schools; 62% Oppose Ban on Rapid-Fire Guns

More than three-quarters of influential Iowa Republicans responding to the latest Patch Red Iowa Survey support having armed guards in schools.

The survey was sent out after the National Rifle Association's statement on the Newtown shooting. The NRA called for armed guards in all schools in response to the shooting at a Newtown, CT elementary school that left 20 first graders and six staff members dead.

Nationally, the NRA statement has prompted a mix of strong reactions, and that was captured in this survey.

"Repeal Gun-Free Zones, Allow Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Nationally," one person who responded to the Red Iowa survey wrote.

Another Republican had a much different response.

"My first inclination would be to remove my children from public schools," one wrote of armed guards in schools. "My fear is that armed guards in every school would lead to Government sponsored TSA-style security in every school, which I find unacceptable."

Of the 26 respondents, 46 percent strongly agreed and 31 percent somewhat agreed that armed guards should be in schools, while 11.5 percent somewhat disagreed and 11.5 percent strongly disagreed.

Those responding to the survey are a mix of current and former office holders, party leaders, candidates and activists. Patch's Blue Iowa survey of influential Democrats on the issue will follow.

A similar wave opposed a ban on rapid-fire guns, including 39 percent who strongly oppose and another 23 percent who somewhat oppose.

National polling seems to favor more gun control. The Pew Research Center found that more Americans now believe that controlling gun ownership is a bigger priority than protecting the right to own firearms and a CBS News poll found more people now believe stricter gun control is needed. The USA Today/Gallup Poll found most favor stricter gun laws, but most oppose banning assault weapons.

When asked in the Red Iowa survey what steps lawmakers should take in the wake of the Newtown shootings, respondents wrote "gun-free zones should be banned" and "guns aren't the problem, people are."

"Take a better look at how we handle mental illness, and reports of at-risk individuals," another wrote.

Several people said nothing should be done.

"(Lawmakers) should not make any hasty decisions and efforts should be directed to enhancing system for background checks."

Despite the strong support for having armed guards in schools, respondents were slightly more varied in their reaction to the NRA's statement.

"Equally extreme," "Dumb," "Not feasible," "Too Simplistic," and "Expensive Band-Aid," were a sampling of those critical of the NRA statement.

Still, more showed support for the NRA.

"Step in the right direction," "Good idea," "Spot on," "I am getting a concealed carry permit," and "armed security or armed teachers/administrators would stop this," respondents wrote.

"The Second Amendment exists so citizens can defend themselves and I appreciate the NRA focus on this right."