In polling done at the beginning of this month by YouGov in association with The Economist, a solid majority of overall respondents expressed support for a ban on assault rifles. That policy idea is among the possibilities that have circulated as the U.S. continues to grapple with mass shootings like the recent incident in Nashville at a private school, where a shooter killed six victims including three young children.
This finding in polling is, of course, in contrast to the stance held by the Republicans who consistently oppose a ban. A full 46 percent of overall respondents said they “strongly” support such a ban, while 17 percent said they favor the idea “somewhat.” Only 31 percent of respondents opposed the idea at any level. Even 42 percent of Republican respondents either strongly or somewhat supported the idea of a ban on assault rifles! Republican politicians moving the other rhetorical direction aren’t just out of step with what the country at large actually wants. They’re misrepresenting nearly half their own base of support. There’s not necessarily a divide between residents of urban and rural areas, either. In the poll, 53 percent of those identified as hailing from a rural location supported a ban on assault weapons!
Democratic leaders like President Joe Biden and his team continue to support the idea of such a ban, as do Democrats in Congress, some of whom spoke out again after the Nashville shooting. It is false to assert that restrictions along these lines somehow wouldn’t even do much significant to stop the atrocities the U.S. has faced. Repeatedly, shooters who have killed children and adults have obtained their weapons legally, meaning that changing the law could’ve stopped what took place.
There have recently been protests by students across the United States in favor of action on gun control. Earlier this week, what were apparently thousands of students nationwide held walkouts amid the push. Those demonstrating included students in Tennessee and Uvalde, Texas, the latter of which is where last year’s shooting at Robb Elementary School took place. Recent protests have also taken place inside the Tennessee state Capitol, where Republican legislators recently voted to expel two members of the state House who supported protests for gun control. Republican officials insist on moving the other direction, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis having recently signed a measure to allow Floridians to participate in concealed carry without a permit, eliminating opportunities for oversight.
