FINAL REPORT 2009 Study of Impact of New Legislation on Attitudes and Behavior of Tennessee Voters Prepared by: December 11, 2009.

FINAL REPORT 2009 Study of Impact of New Legislation on Attitudes and Behavior of Tennessee Voters

Prepared by:

December 11, 2009

Dan PrincePresident

dprince@pmresearc

h.com

Sara DaileyResearch Manager

[email protected]

Prince Market Research200 31st Avenue NorthNashville, TN 37203

Toll Free: 800.788.7728 Phone: 615.292.4860Fax: 615.292.0262

www.PMResearch.com

2009 TnHA Survey Prince Market Research 3

Table of Contents

I. Overall Summary Research Sponsor Research Purpose Research Methodology Key Findings

II. Appendix

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I. Overall Summary

2009 TnHA Survey Prince Market Research

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Research Sponsor: Tennessee Hospitality Association

The Tennessee Hospitality Association (TnHA) represents the interests of Tennessee’s lodging and dining establishments and the related businesses involved in the hospitality industry.


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Research Purpose

The overall purpose of this research project is to objectively determine how registered voters across the state feel about the idea that people are now allowed to carry permitted hand guns into restaurants that serve alcohol.


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Research Methodology

Prince Market Research (PMR), an independent market research firm, collaborated with TN Hospitality Association (TnHA) to develop the questionnaire, which contained a total of 21 questions.

PMR conducted a total of 812 telephone interviews. The phone survey launched on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 to a randomized sample of listed households in the state of Tennessee. The survey was closed Thursday, November 12, 2009. The sponsor of the research was not revealed. No incentive was offered to participate.

Each survey lasted about 5 minutes.

The margin of error for the full sample (n=812) is +/-3.5%.2009 TnHA Survey Prince Market Research

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Key Findings


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Awareness and Attitudes

Nearly three-fourths are aware of the new law that allows guns in bars.

A new TN law now allows anyone with a permit to carry their hand gun, to take that gun into any restaurant in the state that serves alcohol. This includes all restaurants and bars that serve any type of alcoholic beverages, wine, or beer. Restaurants must allow this unless they post a sign explicitly stating that they do NOT allow guns on the property. Prior to this call, were you:


Awareness of the law is high among all of these sub-groups.


Awareness of the law is high among all of these sub-groups.


Two-thirds think the new law is a bad idea.

Overall, do you feel that the idea of allowing anyone with a permit to carry a hand gun into a restaurant that serves alcohol is generally a good idea or a bad idea?


62% of NRA members think this law is a good idea, while 70% of non-NRA members think it’s a bad idea.


Each subgroup had a majority of respondents saying this law is a bad idea.


81% felt safe in these establishments before the new law; 39% said they feel less safe there now.

Before this law was passed, would you say that you felt safe or unsafe going into restaurants you visit in TN that serve alcohol?

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Knowing that anyone with a permit may now carry a hand gun into these same restaurants, do you feel more safe, less safe, or no different?


A large majority within each of these subgroups said they felt safe before the new law.


A large majority within each of these subgroups said they felt safe before the new law.


Fewer than 40% of gun groups/permit holders said they feel safer now; 15% actually feel less safe now.


56% of Democrats and 50% of women said they feel less safe now.


Most respondents favor opt-in (61%) rather than opt-out (25%) legislation on this matter.

Regarding the law that allows handguns in restaurants serving alcoholic beverages, beer, and wine, do you think:


While NRA/TFA members favored opt-out by a 2:1 margin, gun/carry permit holders were more split.


All political, age, and gender subgroups strongly favored the opt-in (rather than opt-out) position.


A majority of people feel property owners should have the choice to allow or not allow handguns.

This new law may put the rights of gun owners at odds with the rights of property owners. Which of the following two statements do you agree with more:


One issue where all sides seem to agree: Rights of property owners trump those of gun owners.


One issue where all sides seem to agree: Rights of property owners trump those of gun owners.


People are 5 times as likely to visit a restaurant that does not allow guns vs. one that does.

Which of the following would you personally be more likely to do:


Fewer than half of gun groups/licensees said they are more likely to visit places that allow guns.


Only 10% of Republicans and 15% of Ind. said they are more likely to visit places that allow guns.


If your elected representative voted for this “guns in bars” legislation – that is, they voted to allow guns in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol – would this make you:


43% said they are less likely to vote for someone that voted for this legislation; 14% are more likely.


38% of carry permit holders are more likely to vote for a supporter of this; 14% are actually less likely.


Regardless of party, results indicate that supporters are likely to lose more voters than they gain.

Nearly one-half (44%) think this new law is bad for the state’s image; 47% say it will have no effect.

What impact, if any, do you think this new law will have on the image of TN among people in other parts of the country? Do you think allowing permitted hand guns in restaurants here that serve alcohol will be:


25% of NRA and TFA members say this will be good for the state’s image; 6-17% say it will be bad.


Republicans are 3X more likely to say this is bad for the state’s image (34%) than say it’s good (10%).


One-third think that this new law will be bad for tourism; 64% say it will have no effect.

What impact, if any, do you think this new law will have on tourism in TN among people in other parts of the country? Do you think allowing permitted hand guns in restaurants here that serve alcohol will be:


Most NRA and TFA members, permit holders and licensees see no effect on tourism.


48% of Democrats and 39% of Women think this will be bad for tourism in Tennessee.


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Respondent Demographics

The sample was relatively evenly split between Republicans (30%), Democrats (27%) and Ind. (23%).

Do you consider yourself to be a:


Nearly one-half (48%) of respondents have or have had a license to hunt and fish in Tennessee.

Do you have, or have ever had a license to hunt and fish in Tennessee?


Less than 1 out of 10 respondents are members of either the NRA or TN Firearms Association.

National Rifle Association TN Firearms Association


Just 14% of all respondents have a hand gun carry permit.

Do you currently have a hand gun carry permit?


Over three-fourths of the respondents surveyed are 46 and older.

Could you please tell me which of the following categories includes your age?


Two-thirds (67%) of respondents have some type of post-High School education.

Which of the following best describes your formal education?


Of those respondents who participated in the survey, over three-fourths are White/Caucasian.

Which of the following best describes your formal education?


Three-fourths of those interviewed are female and one-fourth male.

Gender?


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II. Appendix


FINAL REPORT 2009 Study of Impact of New Legislation on Attitudes and Behavior of Tennessee Voters Prepared by: December 11, 2009.

Documents

research project

appendix slide

phone survey

new law

sara dailey research

dan prince president

new tn law

bad idea