But this partisan polarization does not change a basic fact: Republicans generally favor gun-control legislation. Since 1972, a majority of Republicans have supported a law that would require a police permit for a gun purchase. The decline in support among Republicans shouldn’t mask the fact that many still support police permits.

This is true even when you look at subsets of Republicans. Based on my statistical modeling, even among men who own guns and identify as strong Republicans there is about a 50-50 chance of supporting police permits for gun purchases.