Four in 10 Americans Fear Obama Will Ban Gun Sales

Sales of guns and ammunition soared when Barack Obama became president because of fears that he and the Democratic-controlled Congress would pass anti-gun legislation, and that concern still shows up in a Gallup poll conducted Oct. 1-4. Forty-one percent of Americans believe Obama will try to ban the sale of guns while in office, according to the poll.

While Gallup put the question in the framework of a ban on all guns, it notes that "Obama has never said, either on the campaign trail or after taking office, that he intends to push for a ban on the sale of all guns. Nevertheless, the reports of increased sales of guns and ammunition suggest that certain segments of society -- in particular, gun owners -- are acting as if this belief is true."

A majority -- 52 percent -- don't believe Obama will try to ban gun sales.

Fifty-five percent of those Gallup polled own a gun and 53 percent say there is a gun in their household.

Sixty-two percent of Republicans voice the fear of an Obama-inspired gun ban while only 20 percent of Democrats say the same. The highest level of concern is in the South and Midwest where 47 percent and 46 percent respectively are worried about a ban.