Fifty-six percent said it was more important to protect the right to own guns versus 39 percent who said controlling gun ownership and 5 percent who answered they weren't sure. Men tended to be more likely to defend gun ownership, with 63 percent supporting the right to own guns and 32 percent saying gun control was more important.

The poll was conducted by phone Sept 9 to 12. 615 likely voters were included. 34% were Republicans, 34% were Democrats, 30% said they were undecided. 26% were contacted by cell phone and "who were shown a questionnaire on their smartphone, tablet or other electronic device."

Where necessary, responses were weighted according to age, gender, ethnic origin, geographical area and number of adults and number of voice telephone lines in the household, so that the sample would reflect the actual demographic proportions in the population, using most recent U.S. Census estimates. In theory, with the stated sample size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results would not vary by more than the stated margin of sampling error, in one direction or the other, had the entire universe of respondents been interviewed with complete accuracy.