A new poll of Americans has found that the vast majority support common-sense gun control laws. The poll by Politico found that 70% supported a ban on assault weapons, that includes 86% of Democrats and 54% of Republicans. 83% also believe that there should be background checks on anyone buying a weapon. Around 30% of Americans own a gun.
Gun laws in the United States are extremely lax compared to most of the world, there are currently estimated to be around 400 million guns in circulation in the United States and over 15,000 people lost their lives to guns in 2019 alone. In the UK, there are roughly around 60 deaths from gun violence each year.
While previous US governments have tried to curtail the sale of weapons, this has been consistently blocked by Republican legislators in Congress and in the Senate who strongly support the right to bear arms. Many of these elected officials also receive funding from the National Rifle Association, which lobbies on behalf of gun owners and the gun industry. Former President Obama had attempted to pass new gun-laws after the Sandy Hook school shooting which left 26 dead, but these law changes were rejected by Republicans.
It is hoped that new president Joe Biden will be able to pass new legislation that will curtail the number of gun deaths each year. In a statement following the Colorado shooting, the President said:
"I don't need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common-sense steps that will save the lives in the future, and to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act."
The current President has voted in favour of gun control laws before.
President Joe Biden called for a ban on assault weapons and tighter gun-control measures after a mass shooting left 10 people dead in Colorado https://t.co/ssYjO9twsf pic.twitter.com/UJsJ9sBvOg
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 23, 2021
The NRA, which was previously such a powerful lobbying group, has since gone bankrupt, meaning that it is potentially the case that their pressure and influence over the democratic system may have waned somewhat, making gun control activists more hopeful that new legislation may be passed.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said of the NRA bankruptcy:
"I think the implosion of the NRA, the growing support among the American people and the inevitability of increased support gives us an opportunity we haven't had before. What's changed is we now have a president who can put pressure on our colleagues."
[h/t:Upworthy]
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