(TargetLiberty.org) – According to a new NPR-PBS NewsHour-Marist poll, 60 percent of Americans believe that curbing gun violence is more important than gun rights. The NPR has also noted that the current levels of gun violence are the highest they have been in 10 years.
Even among gun owners, 40 percent believe in controlling gun violence. When it comes to the different demographics and parties, 88 percent of Democrats believe that controlling gun violence is more important. On the other hand, 67 percent of Republicans believe that protecting gun rights is more important than curbing gun violence.
The poll was released exactly one year after the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas which left 19 children and two teachers dead. Around 57 percent of Americans have also stated that they view schools in their local communities as safe from gun violence. In a similar question in February 2019, 65 percent stated that schools were safe in their area.
Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion stated in the release of the poll, that the inaction regarding guns in Congress was not aligned with public opinion, and that most Americans can see many different ways to address gun violence.
Specifically, more than a quarter of Americans believe that banning semi-automatic assault weapons is the most effective way of reducing gun violence, while 17 percent stated that mental health screenings for gun buyers would be most effective. Thirteen percent stated that background checks for gun purchases during private sales would be effective, while 12 percent supported red flag laws.
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