A Quinnipiac University poll released Monday shows Colorado voters oppose tougher gun control laws, especially among men and Republicans.
The poll showed voters oppose such laws 56-39 percent, with a 80-18 percent opposition among Republicans. Independent voters oppose tougher laws by 59-35 percent while Democrats support tougher laws 76-19 percent.
According to the poll, men oppose tougher laws 69-27 percent, while women support them 51-44 percent.
The poll, completed as part of a swing state gauge that also included Iowa and Virginia, questioned 1,231 Colorado voters with a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points.
The poll also found Colorado voters approve 51-40 percent of Gov. John Hickenlooper’s work. The voters also approved of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet by 41-34 percent approval rating though the poll showed voters say 40-32 percent that he does not deserve reelection in 2016.
Voters gave U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner a 48-28 percent approval rating, according to the poll.
“With wide partisan and gender gaps, only 26 percent of Colorado voters say the death penalty should be abolished and replaced with life in prison with no chance of parole,” according to a Quinnipiac University news release Monday. “Sixty-seven percent say continue the death penalty.”
The finding comes as jurors in the Aurora theater shooting case weigh whether or not to execute James Holmes for his 2012 attack on an Aurora movie theater that left 12 dead and 70 injured. The jury convicted him earlier this month.
The poll found Colorado voters support 63-32 percent the death penalty rather than life in prison without parole for Holmes.
“With James Holmes awaiting sentencing for the movie theater massacre, there is barely a thread of sentiment in Colorado for abolishing the death penalty,” Tim Malloy, assistant director of the poll, said in the release.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
