Summary
This special topic poll, fielded May 16, 1999, sought respondents' views on the conflict in Kosovo as well as their attitudes toward gun ownership and control laws in the United States. Those queried were asked for their opinions on President Bill Clinton's handling of the situation in Kosovo, the possible use of ground troops, the air strikes being waged against Serbia by the United States and its European allies, and the roles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United States, and the European allies in the peace negotiation process. Respondents were asked for their views on the NATO allies' conditions for ending the conflict, including requiring Serbia to remove its soldiers and special police force from Kosovo, allowing a NATO-led peacekeeping force into Kosovo, permitting the return of all refugees to Kosovo, and granting Kosovo limited self-rule as a province of Serbia. Additional questions elicited views on the NATO allies' bombing of the Chinese consulate in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, which side was winning the conflict, and whether the United States should have become involved. The topic of gun control was also addressed, with items on stricter gun laws, which political party was best suited to handle the issue of gun control, background checks at gun shows, trigger locks, bans on the sale of assault weapons and the sale of guns through the mail and the Internet, and impressions of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, political party, and gun ownership.Cf: http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR02773.v1