According to a new survey, the majority of Americans believe insurance should lead the way.
A recent ValuePenguin poll found that 75% of Americans feel gun owners should be compelled to carry liability insurance on their firearms.
This discovery implies that insurance firms may be a viable answer to gun regulation. Generation Zers, those earning more than $100,000, and parents with children under the age of 18 were the most inclined to support insurance mandates.
Furthermore, 82% of Americans believe that gun owners should be held accountable for how their firearms are used. This opinion was more widespread among parents with children under the age of 18, as well as among millennials.
According to Divya Sangameshwar, an insurance analyst with ValuePenguin, insurance may be the most effective way to advocate for gun restrictions. “When it comes to safety,” Sangameshwar argues, “insurers have always led the way.”
“Car insurance companies offer premium discounts to drivers who purchase vehicles with safety features.” Discounts are also available for installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, creating child-proof fences around swimming pools, and purchasing residences near fire stations. In the case of gun ownership, insurance premiums and discounts can be utilized to promote gun safety and prepare the way for future reasonable safety rules,” she explained.
In terms of the sort of coverage that customers prefer, 44% believe that gun owners should be forced to have a separate insurance policy for each gun, while 31% believe that a single policy would suffice.
Multiple insurance policies are most likely to be supported by parents with children under the age of 18.
In terms of liability coverage, 77% of respondents believe gun owners should have liability coverage ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 for their firearms. Only 7% advocated for gun owners to carry $1 million or more in liability insurance.
In terms of accountability, 82% of those polled say that gun owners should be held accountable for how their firearms are used, regardless of who pulled the trigger.
39% of this group believes gun owners should face criminal charges, 15% believe they should face civil charges, and 28% believe they should face both. Parents with minor children were more likely to support criminal prosecution of gun owners.
Overall, the survey found that the majority of Americans support some form of firearm access restriction, such as regulations based on mental health, criminal history, and age.
Those who have never owned a gun are more likely to believe that firearm permits should be required than those who currently own a gun. They are also more inclined to believe that proof of liability insurance and secure storage should be required.
The survey results indicate that there is widespread support for compulsory liability insurance for gun owners. While this is not a cure-all for gun violence, it could be one tool for promoting gun safety and responsible gun ownership.
Insurance premiums and discounts could potentially be utilized in the future to incentivise gun owners to take safety precautions and advocate the passage of basic gun safety laws.