New Jersey Backs Gun Control Laws By Huge Margins [AUDIO]

New Jersey voters favor a broad range of gun control measures according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll released this morning.

Poll director Mickey Carroll says, "On a series of gun-control questions, New Jersey gives clear support……Overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly, New Jerseyans say, 'Look after the Newtown massacre, those innocent kids, get tougher on guns.'"

Although the Garden State has what many claim to be the second toughest gun laws in the country, 58% of Jersey voters want them to be stricter. 29% say the current laws are fine. Most feel a lot more can and should be done at the federal level.

New Jersey voter opinions on gun-control measures are; 96% support requiring background checks for gun purchases at gun shows; 92% favor preventing mentally ill people from buying guns; 78% want a federal database to track all gun sales; 70% support a nationwide ban high capacity magazines; and 69% back a ban on assault weapons.

Carroll says, "On the rather controversial and some would say kooky idea of putting armed guards in schools, 50% of New Jerseyans think that's a good idea. 44% are against it."

The survey also asked about other Garden State issues like the move to hike the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.25. A 5-2 majority supports the increase, but another 45% want to hike the minimum wage even more.

30% of New Jerseyans say the economy is the biggest issue facing the state. 29% say it's taxes. 8% list super-storm Sandy recovery and 7% say education.

43% of Jersey voters think it will be one to three years before things get back to normal after Sandy. 36% expect the recovery to take three to five years. 5% say things will never get back to normal.

From January 15 - 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,647 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. The poll includes 616 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points.

Listen to Kevin McArdle's report