Calls for tougher gun control have historically peaked after prominent mass shootings and fallen back as the memory of each receded. In the absence of high-profile mass shootings last year, public support for more gun control had eased. But now, in the wake of the two recent massacres, 66% of U.S. adults want stricter gun laws, 25% prefer that laws remain as they are, and 8% say they should be less strict…
In recent years, lawmakers have failed to reach bipartisan agreement to enact tougher gun laws after mass shootings. Republicans and independents were largely behind the declines in support for stricter gun laws in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Now, both groups have become more likely to favor stricter laws, while Democrats’ support for stricter laws has increased marginally.
The 94% of Democrats who currently want to see stricter laws is the highest for the group since 2001. At the same time, the 38% of Republicans and 66% of independents saying so is at or near the high point for each group since 2001.
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