The UW study shows diverse views on abortion and gun rights

A new study from the University of Wyoming finds that there is a wide range of opinions among Wyoming residents about abortion rights, reflecting the diverse views across the state.

Survey indicates 11 percent of Wyoming residents believe abortion should never be allowed. Meanwhile, 31 percent supports allowing abortion only in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger, which emphasizes the conditional approach to the problem.

Additionally, 30 percent believe that abortion should be allowed in situations other than 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.

On the other hand, 39 percent of respondents maintain the belief that women should always have access to abortion as a matter of choice.

The statewide survey was conducted September 24-October. on February 27, which resulted in 739 responses from randomly selected Wyoming residents. The margin of error for the distribution of responses to any question in the survey is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. Men and women from all age groups and all Wyoming counties are proportionally represented in the survey data. The final survey data was weighted to reflect the actual distribution of the Wyoming population by gender, age, county of residence, party affiliation and education.

Among self-identified Republicans, the most common answer is that abortion is only allowed in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger (43%). The second most common response among Republicans is that abortion should always be allowed based on personal choice (22%).

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

“Wyoming residents demonstrate a wide range of views on abortion rights, reflecting deeply nuanced and personal viewpoints,” says Ryan Williamson, assistant professor of political science at UW.

Gun control measures

The UW study also sheds light on Wyoming residents’ diverse perspectives on gun control measures, reflecting both support and opposition to various proposals.

As many as 58 percent of Wyoming residents support the idea of ​​requiring reporting and registration of firearm sales, while 28 percent oppose it. This suggests that a majority favors increased oversight of arms transactions.

When it comes to licensing requirements, 49 percent of respondents think requiring a license to purchase or possess firearms or ammunition is a good idea, compared to 39 percent who rate it as unfavorable, indicating a split in opinion on adding regulatory steps to possess weapons.

When it comes to gun-free zones, 36 percent believe eliminating these zones is beneficial, while 43 percent disagree, highlighting debates about the safety and availability of firearms in specific areas.

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

Every two years, surveys of Wyoming residents are conducted by the Faculty of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies of the University of Warsaw in cooperation with the Wyoming Center for Research and Analysis. Questions focus on attitudes toward government, elected officials, candidates for office, and contemporary political issues. Questions regarding the survey can be directed to [email protected].

The basic report with a methodological outline and full survey results can be found at https://wysac.uwyo.edu/wysac/projects/weys24/.

For the purposes of the UW study, a random sample of all mobile and landline phones was generated. Selected respondents were contacted via email, mail and telephone to complete the survey, with 59 percent of responses provided online and the remaining 41 percent via telephone with a live interviewer (92 percent mobile).

“This approach to survey methodology gives every person in Wyoming with a phone an equal chance of being selected for the survey,” says Brian Harnisch, director of the Wyoming Center for Surveys and Analysis. “Survey respondents accurately reflect the statewide population in terms of general demographic characteristics, which include age, gender and country of residence, as well as other criteria such as party affiliation and education level.”