Assault rifles and handguns have low public acceptance. Ottawa-Ontario Senator Donna Dasko says a recent public opinion poll has reinforced her view that a federal bill to expand gun controls has wide public support. Dasko is a member of the Senate national security committee, which is studying the bill. She commissioned the poll by Nanos Research in late October to test key proposals in the government's controversial Bill C-21. “Since this bill came to the Senate last May, I have received over 1500 pieces of correspondence, mainly from opponents of the bill, so it was important for me to understand what Canadians as a whole think about it,” she said. “I'm now satisfied that the Canadian public strongly supports the expansion of gun control.” The poll shows that support is high, approaching 90 percent or higher, among both women and men, across all age groups, and in all regions of the country, when it comes to removing a firearms license in domestic violence situations and for firearm removal in situations of potential harm. Similarly, 94 percent of Canadians support (81 per cent) or somewhat support (13 per cent) allowing firearms to be removed by a court order from a firearm owner who may pose a danger to themselves or others. When it comes to restrictions on firearms, 85 percent of Canadians support (76 per cent) or somewhat support (9 per cent) prohibiting new assault-style firearms from entering the Canadian market. As for handguns, 73 percent of Canadians support (59 per cent) or somewhat support (14 per cent) freezing the sale, purchase, transport and importation of handguns. The poll shows almost no opposition to removing a firearms license in situations where there has been domestic violence (4 per cent) or firearm removal in situations of potential harm (4 per cent), Dasko said. Only 14 percent of Canadians oppose banning new assault-style firearms and 23 percent oppose the freeze on handguns. There is a significant gender gap with women much more supportive than men when it comes to banning new assault style firearms (93 per cent of women support; 77 per cent of men) and a freeze on handguns (82 per cent of women support; 66 per cent of men). Similarly, older age groups agree with both proposals much more than do young adults. On a regional basis, Quebecers are most in favour (90 per cent); Prairie residents least (77 per cent) when it comes to banning new assault-style weapons. As for the freeze on handguns, support ranges from 80 percent in Quebec, to 57 percent in the Prairie region, with support in Ontario (77 per cent), B.C. (76 per cent) and the Atlantic provinces (70 per cent) approaching the national average. The poll is based on a national sample of 1,071 adult Canadians and has a margin of error of ±3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.