In the aftermath of the shooting deaths of 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando earlier this month, a majority of Americans now say they want their Congressional representatives to pass stricter gun control laws.
A nationwide Quinnipiac University poll released this morning shows that, 54 percent of registered voters surveyed said they would like tougher legislation when it comes to guns. That is the the highest percentage of Americans expressing that view in the history of the Quinnipiac poll.
More specifically, respondents were asked if it’s possible to have tougher gun laws that do not interfere with the rights of responsible gun owners. 64 percent said they believe that to be the case, while 28 percent said they would interfere. On the oft-expressed idea from the National Rifle Association (NRA) that the U.S. would be safer if more people carried guns, 52 percent said it would be less safe, while 40 percent said would be safer.
There was also a striking difference in the poll when you look at the age groups and how they responded: 60 percent of voters between the ages of 18 and 35 expressed support, compared to 57 percent of those aged 35 to 49 and 54 percent for those 65 and older. For voters between the ages of 50 and 64, there was an even split of 48 percent each.
When asked about universal background checks, the numbers were even more overwhelmingly in favor of enactment. 93 percent said they support universal background checks to purchase a weapon. Just 6 percent said they opposed, with similar levels of support across various demographic groups. Nearly 62 percent of all respondents said requiring background checks would be effective in reducing gun violence in the U.S., while only 35 percent expressed doubt that they would.
Other specifics from the Quinnipiac poll on gun control:
- 86 percent said they support barring people on federal watch lists from buying guns.
- 59 percent said they would support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons,
And yet, despite these overwhelming numbers, the GOP-controlled House and Senate continue to dither and dance to the tune of gun manufacturers who finance their campaigns at the same time they sow death and destruction across this country.
Featured Image Via YouTube Screengrab
