Opposition to assault weapons ban hits record high
A Gallup poll released on Wednesday found people are more likely to oppose a ban on assault weapons now than at any time over the past two decades, in the wake of a growing number of terrorist attacks and mass shootings over the last few years.
A little over one-in-three people would support a law making it illegal to manufacture, sell or possess semi-automatic guns known as assault rifles, according to a Gallup poll conducted Oct. 5-9. Support for banning this type of firearm peaked in 2000 at nearly 60 percent, a few years after former Democratic President Bill Clinton signed a federal assault weapons ban in 1994.
But since that ban expired in 2004, support for such legislation has fallen. Opposition to restrictions on the production and distribution of these weapons has increased from 42 percent in 1996 to 61 percent today.
Although assault rifles were used in major domestic attacks, including San Bernardino, Calif.; Orlando; Aurora, Col.; and Newtown, Conn., the public's attitude on the issue has evolved as political parties have.