Safety of schools a top priority of Florida voters, new poll shows

A year after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre — with lots of political talk and some action about guns and school safety — almost half of Florida voters remain “extremely concerned” about the physical safety of schools.

In addition to the 45 percent who are extremely concerned, a Florida Atlantic University Poll released Tuesday found another 41 percent are somewhat concerned.

Just 14 percent said they’re not concerned at all.

There’s a significant gender divide on the issue with 55 percent of women extremely concerned, compared to 34 percent of men.

Among women, 10 percent aren’t at all concerned, compared to 18 percent of men who aren’t at all concerned.

There’s also a significant partisan difference, with 58 percent of Democrats, 33 percent of Republicans, and 42 percent of independents extremely concerned.

Stricter gun laws

Florida voters expressed strong support for making gun laws stricter, but the sentiment wasn’t quite as strong as it was a year ago in the immediate aftermath of the shooting at the Parkland school where 17 people were killed and 17 injured, FAU polled about several gun-related issues.

The new poll found 65 percent favored stricter gun laws, 12 percent favored less strict gun laws, and 23 percent said they should stay the same.

In February 2018, within two weeks of the shooting, an FAU survey found 70 percent favored stricter gun laws, 11 percent said they should be less strict and 19 percent said laws should be left as they are.

Arming teachers

Florida voters disapprove of the idea of arming teachers, but opposition isn’t as strong as it was in the immediate aftermath of the Stoneman Douglas shooting.

Giving teachers the authority to carry firearms on school property is opposed by 51 percent of Florida voters and supported by 37 percent.

The idea is under consideration in the Florida Legislature’s annual session.

In February 2018, 56 percent opposed arming teachers and 31 percent supported the idea.

The current opposition is 14 percentage points; a year ago it was 25 points.

The latest results come from an FAU Business and Economics Polling Initiative survey of 500 Florida registered voters conducted online and through automated calls to people with landline telephones from Thursday through Saturday.

It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Breakdowns for smaller groups, such as Democrats, Republicans and independents and men and women, have higher margins of error.