Acccording to a poll, American voters say 48 - 38 percent that the government could use the information from universal background checks to confiscate legally-owned guns, but voters still support universal gun background checks 91 - 8 percent, including 88 - 11 percent among voters in households with guns, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.

Gun owners believe 53 - 34 percent that universal background checks could lead to confiscation of legal guns, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

"In every Quinnipiac University poll since the Newtown massacre, nationally and in six states, we find overwhelming support, including among gun owners, for universal background checks," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "American voters agree with the National Rifle Association, however, that these background checks could lead someday to confiscation of legally-owned guns."

"The question is how many of these voters fear confiscation as an abuse of government power and how many are hoping the government uses confiscation to get more guns off the street," Brown added.

Expecting gun confiscation are Republicans 61 - 25 percent and independent voters 51 - 36 percent, while Democrats say 54 - 32 percent there will not be confiscation. Men say confiscation is likely 52 - 37 percent and women agree 45 - 38 percent.

The poll results are available at http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-centers/polling-institute/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=1877