A study by the Pew Research Center revealed that Americans' opinions towards gun control have only changed slightly since the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. left 28 dead, including the shooter. The study found that 49 percent of Americans place more importance in gun control, while 42 percent place more importance in the right to own guns.
According to the study, which was released on December 20, the number of Americans placing more importance on gun control has risen two percent since the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo. in July 2012. However, the number of Americans placing more importance on the right to own guns has dropped four percent, from 46 percent in July to 42 percent in December.
The report also found that support for gun control is lower than it was before President took office. According to the Pew Research Center, 58 percent of Americans placed more importance on gun control, while 37 percent gave precedence to protecting gun rights in April 2008.
Differences of opinion vary between the sexes, political parties and race, the study revealed. Most men, whites and Republicans are in favor of protecting gun rights, while women, blacks and Democrats favor gun control. In the Northeast, most favor gun control, but opinion is divided in other regions, the report stated.
A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center on Dec. 17-19 revealed that 48 percent of American adults believe that owning a gun protects people from crime than put their lives at risk (37 percent). The poll also revealed that 65 percent of Americans believe that allowing ownership of assault weapons makes the country more dangerous, while 21 percent said it makes the country safer.
Americans are not in favor of banning handguns, the study revealed. Sixty-seven percent oppose banning the ownership of handguns, except by police officers. However, more Americans are in favor of banning bullets made to explode or penetrate bulletproof vests (56 percent) and high capacity ammunition clips (53 percent), the study found.
When it comes to banning semi-automatic guns, the public is divided 44 percent in favor of a ban and 49 percent opposed to a ban.
However, a new study by Gallup revealed that 58 percent of Americans are in fact in favor of strengthening laws surrounding the sale of firearms. The poll, conducted on Dec. 19-22, found that 47 percent of Americans are in favor of passing new gun laws.
Like the study by the Pew Research Center, the Gallup poll found that more Americans are against banning the sale of semi-automatic guns. The Gallup poll found that 51 percent of Americans are opposed to making semi-automatic guns illegal. The poll also revealed that 62 percent of Americans favor placing a ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines.
A record 92 percent of Americans also favor requiring background checks for anyone attempting to purchase guns at gun shows. But, like the results found by Pew, Gallup found that the American public is against a ban on the ownership of handguns, at 74 percent.
While some attitudes towards gun control are shifting, a majority of Americans are still in favor of protecting certain gun ownership rights. In the wake of such tragic incidents, it is not uncommon that the conversation over gun control becomes prominent.