Staff Reports
In the wake of multiple mass shootings in the United States, President Joe Biden has been vocal in his support for a national ban on “assault weapons” and high capacity magazines. Despite this call to action, a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll has revealed that the majority of Americans are opposed to such a ban. The poll, conducted from January 27 to February 1, surveyed 1,003 adults and found that 51% of them opposed a ban on assault weapons, a 10-point increase from 2019. This is one of the lowest measures of public support for a ban since the poll began in 1995.
TRIGGER WARNING. New ABC News/WaPo poll shows support for banning "assault weapons" at all-time low, even in wake of multiple mass shootings.
Too late to leverage this crisis for more Bloomberg support.https://t.co/dD9hqu3jHq#copolitics #coleg #9News #HeyNext pic.twitter.com/S6fzWkPfsH
— 9MM NEWS (@News9mm) February 7, 2023
President Biden has repeatedly pushed for a ban on certain firearms, and in June 2022 he rolled out an extensive gun control agenda calling for a ban on “assault weapons and high capacity magazines.” During his speech, he emphasized that the move was not about taking away anyone’s guns, but rather about doing something to prevent mass shootings. He further questioned why Americans need so many bullets, saying “ban the number of bullets that can go in a magazine. No, no need for any of that.”
The public is still undecided on whether or not making it harder to get guns would reduce mass shootings, and this is reflected in the poll results. President Biden is expected to reiterate his support for a nation-wide assault rifle ban during his upcoming State of the Union Address. He has previously called for a ban on semi-automatic firearms, saying that the ability to purchase these guns is “just sick” and has “no social redeeming value.”
The debate surrounding gun control in the United States is complex and multi-faceted. It is clear from the poll results that there is still much disagreement over whether or not a ban on assault weapons would be effective in reducing mass shootings. It remains to be seen what action President Biden will take on this issue and how it will be received by the public.
Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, it is important to recognize that gun control is an issue that affects all Americans and should be discussed with respect and understanding. It is also important to consider the potential consequences of any proposed legislation before making a decision. Ultimately, it is up to the public to decide what action should be taken to reduce gun violence in the United States.
The preceding article is a summary of an article that originally appeared on The Daily Caller
