A PUBLICATION OF COLE HARGRAVE SNODGRASS & ASSOCIATES
VOLUME 15 - NUMBER 6
Voters Call on Legislature to Stop Vicious Dog Attacks
Only 8% Say “Do Nothing”
by Pat McFerron
Director of Survey Research
Oklahomans are concerned about
attacks by malicious dogs -- and they are
passionate about the issue. When initially
presented with the option of placing a
statewide ban on Pit Bull Terriers, voters are
very supportive of the idea; however, when
presented with other options on how to deal
with the problem of Pit Bull attacks,
respondents, while not opposed to a ban,
prefer increasing civil and criminal penalties for
those owners whose dogs attack rather than an
outright ban of a particular breed.
The Sooner Survey initially asked 500
Oklahoma voters whether or not they were in
favor of a proposal to ban Pit Bull Terriers
statewide. A majority of respondents favored
a ban (55% favor vs. 35% oppose), with 44%
of those surveyed saying they were “strongly”
in favor of the proposal. The idea of a ban is
popular among virtually all demographic
breakdowns initially, and surprisingly, given
the nature of the dog’s propensity to attack
children, a ban is more popular among those
without children in their home (56% favor vs.
34% oppose) than those with children under
18 living under their roof (52% favor vs. 40%
oppose). As might be expected, urban
residents are more supportive of a ban (56%
favor), but even in the rural parts of the state,
support for banning Pit Bulls exceeds 50%
(54% favor).
Among the 65% of voters who
consider themselves to be conservative in
NOVEMBER 2005
Key Facts
• A ban on Pit Bulls is
popular among virtually all
demographic groups.
• A ban is popular among
three critical swing voting
blocs in Oklahoma - Bush
Democrats, Undecided
Generic Gubernatorial
nature, the proposal would pass rather easily Democrats, and Democrats
(57% favor vs. 35% oppose). Among who attend church on a
registered Republicans, the proposal regular basis.
succeeds by a 52%-favor-to-36%-oppose
margin, and among registered Democrats,
• While Oklahomans as a
the proposal wins by an even greater rate
whole would support a ban
(58% favor vs. 34% oppose). Senior on Pit Bulls, they actually
citizens are actually the most adamant about would prefer strengthening a
having a ban enacted (62% favor a ban; law against all owners of
50% strongly favor). dogs that attack, regardless
Perhaps most important to political of their breed.
figures looking at their own prospects is the
fact that a ban on Pit Bulls is strongly
• Virtually every demo-
endorsed by Democrats who supported graphic group, ranging from
President Bush in the last election (55% parents, to senior citizens, all
favor ban vs. 35% oppose), those corners of the state and all
undecided on a generic gubernatorial ballot income levels, supports
(50% favor ban vs. 37% oppose), and increasing penalties on
Democrats who attend church on a regular owners of dogs that attack.
basis (60% favor ban vs. 29% oppose).
These three groups are critical to electoral
success in Oklahoma. (continued on page 2)
1
(Continued from page 1)
SOONER SURVEY
While Oklahomans as a whole would support a
ban on Pit Bulls, they actually would prefer
strengthening a law against owners of all dogs that
attack, regardless of their breed. When asked what their
preferred action would be among several options, most
respondents favored increasing penalties to those owners of
malicious dogs (49%) rather than an outright ban on the dogs
(12%), while an additional 25% favored taking both courses
of action. When totaled, it is clearly seen that 74% of
Oklahomans favor stiffer penalties for attack dogs, while 37%
favor banning the particular breed of Pit Bulls. This is not to
say that a ban would be unpopular, but rather that an across-
the-board penalty system is preferred. Perhaps the most
important finding is that only 8% of respondents believe
that nothing should be done in response to attacks
perpetrated by Pit Bulls and other breeds of dogs.
This issue transcends party lines. A super-majority of
registered Republicans favors increasing penalties on those
owners whose dogs attack (78% — 54% penalties only;
24% penalties and ban on Pit Bulls), while 35% favored a
ban in some form (24% ban with penalties; 11% ban only).
Only 7% of those in the GOP favored doing nothing in
response. Among Democrats, 71% say increase penalties
(44% penalties only, 27% penalties and a ban on Pit Bulls)
while 9% say do nothing. Virtually every demographic
group, ranging from parents, to senior citizens, all
corners of the state and all income levels, supports
increasing penalties on owners of dogs that attack.
Although Drew Edmondson has recently stated that
municipalities cannot legally ban specific dog breeds in the
state according to a 1991 statute (S.B. 87), a statewide ban
passed by the state legislature remains a possibility. Those
who love Pit Bulls would be wise to support very tough
civil and criminal penalties on the owners of dogs who
attack while the public still supports this less drastic
action. !

Statewide Ban on Pit Bulls by Groups

70% Favor Oppose
60% 58%
60% 56%
55% 52%
54%
50% 49%

42% 36%
35%
40% 36%
35% 34%
30%
30%

20%

10%

0%
All Men
SOONER
Women
SURVEY
Urban Rural Rep Dem

2
 NOVEMBER 2005
Statewide Ban on Pitbulls by Ideology
60%
58% 56%

50%
48% 45% Pat McFerron is a
48% nationally recognized
45% pollster who has been
40% with Cole Hargrave
44% Snodgrass & Associates
39% 33% since 1993. He has
35% supervised polling
30% numbers for numerous
successful gubernatorial,
U.S. Senate, Congres-
20% Favor Oppose sional and legislative
clients throughout the
nation. In addition,
McFerron conducted
10% polling for Oklahoma’s
Right-to-Work
campaign, Oklahoma
City’s MAPS for Kids,
0% Tulsa’s Vision 2025,
Strongly Liberal Somewhat Moderate Somewhat Strongly Fortune 500 companies,
Liberal Conservative Conservative and many local and
legislative campaigns.

Support For Ban and/or Increasing Penalties

80%

60%

40% 79% 78%

74% 70% 71%

20% 37% 35% 39% 35% 40%

0%
All - All - Ban Urban - Urban - Rural - Rural - Rep - Rep - Ban Dem- Dem-
Increase Increase Ban Increase Ban Increase Increase Ban
Penalties Penalties Penalties Penalties Penalties
3
 SOONER SURVEY
Sooner Survey: The Pit Bull Questions
1. It has been proposed that a statewide ban be placed on the dog breed of Pit Bull Terriers. Would you favor or oppose such
a ban? (After response, ask:) Do you strongly or only somewhat (favor / oppose) a ban?
Strongly Favor ................................. 44%
Somewhat Favor ............................. 11%
Somewhat Oppose ........................... 18%
Strongly Oppose .............................. 17%
Undecided (vol.) .............................. 10%

2. Some people say… While other people say… (Rotate arguments)

…that Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous and vicious. They say that the very nature of the breed makes it dangerous to keep,
especially in areas where they might be exposed to children, mailpersons, and/or water meter readers. They say this breed of
dog has no use in today’s society and should be banned.

…that the owners are to blame for the attitude and nature of a dog, and if trained and brought up properly, a pit bull is no more
dangerous than any other dog. They say that to better protect people from vicious dogs, we should have tougher civil and
criminal penalties on the owners of all dogs that attack people, not just pit bulls.

What do you think? Do you think nothing should be done, that Pit Bulls should be banned in Oklahoma, that penalties need to
be increased on owners of dogs that attack, or do you think Pit Bulls should be banned and penalties should be increased?
Do nothing................................................................ 8%
Ban Pit Bulls ............................................................ 12%
Increase penalties ..................................................... 49%
Ban Pit Bulls and increase penalties.......................... 25%
Undecided (vol.) ....................................................... 6%

This edition of the Sooner Survey was taken between August 8 - 11, 2005. It was a telephone
survey of 500 registered voters in Oklahoma. The sample accurately reflects the electorate of the state.
The confidence interval associated with a sample of this type is such that 95% of the time, the results
are within +/-4.3% of the “true values,” where “true values” refer to the results obtained if it were
possible to interview every voter in the state.

The Sooner Survey is published twelve times a year by Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates, Inc., (405) 415-3017. Subscriptions are $240 per year.

The Authoritative Newsletter of Oklahoma Political Information Since 1989

A Publication of Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates

Post Office Box 2034
Oklahoma City, OK 73101