The 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings caused several states and cities to pass strict gun control measures. In response, state lawmakers in gun friendly states in the South and West passed bills that would strengthen Stand Your Ground laws and allow weapons in most public places. In 2014, 21 states passed laws that expanded the rights of gun owners allowing them to possess firearms in churches, bars, schools and college campuses. The federal government has not passed any gun control measures since the 1994 Brady Bill and 42 states now allow the possession of assault rifles. In the U.S. two-thirds of all gun deaths are suicides and in 2010 there were 19,000 firearm suicides and 11,000 firearm homicides.
53% Yes |
47% No |
45% Yes |
36% No |
7% Yes, require strict background checks, psychological testing, and training |
6% No, only for criminals and the mentally ill |
1% Yes, but only by closing the gun show loophole |
2% No, but increase penalties for gun-related crimes |
0% Yes, and ban all guns from public use |
2% No, only for assault weapons |
1% No, and the government should pass a national “stand your ground” law |
See how support for each position on “Gun Control” has changed over time for 26.9m America voters.
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See how importance of “Gun Control” has changed over time for 26.9m America voters.
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Unique answers from America users whose views extended beyond the provided choices.
@5KGHPZJ3yrs3Y
Chicago has very strict gun laws and yet the highest gun related crimes...criminals do not care about laws...you cannot pass a law that will stop a criminal from obtaining a weapon if he really wants one
@4WV9Q2C3yrs3Y
guns don't kill people it's the crazy unstable people, the uneducated people.
@53KWBGY3yrs3Y
Stay out of this. Guns are only a method to kill. People are messed up. Start at home with good role models.
@4SH75653yrs3Y
I believe there are over 2000 gun laws already on the books. Maybe we could enforce those before passing new ones. Come on, people! Guns don't kill people, people kill people.
@5H37QM53yrs3Y
You know what we should totally do? Let's say you take the class, clear a background check, then go to a gun dealer. The gun dealer can check your background check again, then help you choose the right gun for you. Here's the clincher: You have guns that will only work for you. Like using your fingerprint. (This is my husband's idea and I LOVE it! They have safes that work this way, why not find a way to apply it to firearms?!). Anyways, if someone steals your gun, they cannot use it because their fingerprints are different. Then it's just a glorified paper weight.
@54W37HG3yrs3Y
Repeal all firearms restrictions back to 1791.
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@ISIDEWITH15hrs15H
In a significant display of civic engagement, students, parents, and educators across Tennessee have taken to the streets in protest of a controversial bill that would allow teachers to carry concealed guns in schools. This legislative move, passed by the Senate last week, has sparked a fierce debate about safety, responsibility, and the role of firearms in educational settings. The bill's proponents argue it's a step toward enhancing school security, while a vocal opposition condemns it as a dangerous and misguided approach to addressing gun violence.The protests have seen a remarkable turnout, with over a hundred students rallying at the Capitol, signaling a deep concern among the youth about the implications of introducing more guns into their learning environment. The sight of young people, some of whom have had terrifyingly close encounters with school shooters, pleading for a different solution to school safety is a powerful reminder of the stakes involved.Critics of the bill, including some educators and law enforcement professionals, argue that arming teachers could lead to more problems than it solves. They raise questions about the adequacy of training, the potential for accidents, and the psychological impact on students knowing their teachers are armed. These concerns are echoed in the broader national debate on how best to protect students from the scourge of school shootings that have become all too common in the United States.As the bill moves to the House for consideration, the protests in Tennessee reflect a larger national struggle over gun control and school safety. The voices of students, who have grown up in an era marked by lockdown drills and tragic headlines, are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Their calls for action, grounded in their experiences and fears, are a poignant reminder of the urgent need for a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to preventing gun violence in schools.The outcome of this legislative battle in Tennessee may have implications far beyond its borders, as states across the country grapple with similar proposals. The debate in Tennessee is not just about a bill; it's about the vision for the kind of society Americans want to live in and the measures they are willing to accept in the name of safety.
@ISIDEWITH2 days2D
In a historic move, the Colorado House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at banning the sale, manufacture, and transfer of so-called 'assault weapons' within the state. This significant legislative action marks the first time such a measure has been approved in Colorado, setting a precedent that could have wide-reaching implications for gun control efforts across the United States. The bill, known as House Bill 1292, was passed with a vote of 35-27, largely along party lines, with all Republicans and nine Democrats opposing the measure. The bill's passage in the House sends it to the Colorado Senate, where its fate remains uncertain amidst a more divided political landscape.The proposed legislation targets a specific category of firearms often referred to as 'assault weapons,' a term that encompasses a variety of semi-automatic rifles, including those frequently used in mass shootings. Proponents of the bill argue that such weapons have no place in civilian hands, citing their potential for mass casualties and their role in numerous high-profile shootings across the country. Critics, however, contend that the bill infringes on Second Amendment rights and could penalize law-abiding gun owners without effectively addressing the root causes of gun violence.The debate over the bill has been intense, reflecting the broader national conversation on gun control and the balance between public safety and individual rights. As the bill moves to the Senate, both supporters and opponents are gearing up for a contentious battle, with the outcome likely to influence future legislative efforts in Colorado and beyond. Regardless of its final fate, the passage of House Bill 1292 in the Colorado House represents a significant moment in the ongoing debate over gun control, signaling a potential shift in how states approach the regulation of firearms.If the bill becomes law, Colorado would join a handful of other states that have enacted similar bans on assault weapons, positioning itself at the forefront of a growing movement to address gun violence through legislative action. As the nation continues to grapple with the epidemic of mass shootings, the actions taken by Colorado lawmakers could serve as a model for other states considering similar measures. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Colorado will take this bold step towards greater gun control or if the bill will face insurmountable opposition in the Senate.
@ISIDEWITH5 days5D
The Biden administration is moving to expand background checks for gun purchases, fulfilling a key demand of advocates following the deadly shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas.The final rule, expected to be submitted Thursday to the Federal Register by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, would eliminate a loophole that has allowed sales of guns without background checks of guns outside of brick-and-mortar stores.The rule was issued under a provision of the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. It requires that anyone who sells guns for profit to have a license and that buyers be subject to a background check, including at firearms shows and flea markets. The administration had been working on the rule since last spring. Once publicized, it will take effect in 30 days.The so-called gun show loophole has for years allowed unlicensed gun dealers to sell firearms without background checks at gun shows, on the internet and out of their homes. The new rule, the most sweeping expansion of firearms background checks in decades, will apply to more than 20,000 individuals engaged in unlicensed gun dealing and affect “tens and tens of thousands of gun sales” each year, an administration official told reporters during a call previewing the announcement.“This single gap in our federal background check system has caused unimaginable pain and suffering,” Vice President Kamala Harris said on the call.The vice president noted the 25th anniversary next week of the mass shooting at Columbine High School, which was carried out with weapons purchased through the gun-show loophole. She also pointed to the 2019 shooting in Midland and Odessa, Texas, where a man killed seven people and wounded dozens of others. A background check stopped the shooter from purchasing a gun at a sporting goods store in 2014, but he later purchased an AR-15 from an unlicensed seller he met online.“So many communities have been torn apart by acts of violence committed with weapons bought without background checks,” she continued. “So in the memory of all those we have lost today, as the head of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, I am proud to announce that all gun dealers now must conduct background checks no matter where or how they sell their merchandise.”An analysis published last week from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found sales by unlicensed dealers were the most frequently used gun trafficking channel. From 2017 to 2021, the ATF traced more than 68,000 of these illegally tracked firearms to unlicensed dealers.“Today’s Final Rule is about ensuring compliance with an important area of the existing law where we all know, the data show, and we can clearly see that a whole group of folks are openly flouting that law. That leads to not just unfair but, in this case, dangerous consequences,” said ATF director Steven Dettelbach.The move is already facing backlash from Republicans. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), the lead Republicans on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, plan to introduce a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to “overturn this unconstitutional rule,” a Cornyn spokesperson told POLITICO. To invalidate a federal regulation, both Houses must pass the resolution, which would then be sent to a president for a signature or veto. It would take two thirds majority of both Houses of Congress to override the president’s veto.
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