The level of use of traumatic guns in Russia is not very high: 6% of Russians report that they have this type of guns in their families. Only 2% say that they happened to use these guns, or someone has used these guns against them.
MOSCOW, April 24, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data concerning what Russians know about traumatic weapons; how many Russians have it; whether they used it or not.
What Russians know about traumatic guns is that they can cause injury, but not kill a person (25%). Seventeen percent also know that traumatic guns shoot with rubber bullets; 14% say that these guns are allowed to use for personal defense. Thirty percent do not know what these guns are intended for.
Today 6% of Russians report that they or their friends have traumatic guns. Most of them are men (9%), aged 18-24 (11%), those who have high level of income (10%), or who reside in Moscow or Saint Petersburg (10%). Other 5% report that they or their friends had it before, but not now. The overwhelming majority of Russians (85%) mention that neither them, nor their friends have possessed traumatic guns.
Most of Russians did not happen to use traumatic guns, and this type of guns has never been used against them (98%). Only few Russians happened to experience this (1%, for each).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on April 6-7, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 130 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Do you know what traumatic guns are? What are its features? (open-ended question, any number of answers) | |
It can cause injuries, but not kill. It is not dangerous | 25 |
These guns shoot with rubber bullets | 17 |
It is allowed to use for self-defense | 14 |
These guns may be potentially lethal weapons only in certain circumstances (in unpractised hands; if to shoot at close range) | 6 |
Not combat, not firing gun | 5 |
Pistol | 3 |
Gas pistol | 3 |
It is easier to buy than a firearm | 1 |
Shocker | 1 |
Pneumatic gun | 1 |
Other | 1 |
I do not know | 30 |
Do you/your family/your friends have, or have you/your family/your friends had traumatic guns, or not? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Yes, we have | 6 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
We had, but not now | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
We have never had | 85 | 80 | 84 | 84 | 87 | 89 |
I do not know | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
Have you happened to use traumatic guns/ have anyone used traumatic guns against you? (open-ended question, any number of answers) | |
I have used traumatic guns personally | 1 |
Thus type of guns have been used against me | 1 |
Never | 98 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!