Something I forgot to mention in my previous post about the NYT/CBS News poll showing terrorism fears reaching levels not seen since the immediate weeks after the 9/11 attacks–Americans are also not really getting behind the president’s renewed call for a ban on assault rifles. Only 44 percent of Americans support the position, 50 percent oppose it.
The publication noted that support for this unserious gun control policy is now registering 19 points below how the public felt following the 2011 mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, which almost took the life of former Rep. Gabby Giffords (R-AZ).
With this poll, support for a nationwide ban on assault rifles has always, on average, cobbled a supermajority. This is the first time in 20 years that more Americans oppose this anti-gun position. Asked for supporting stricter gun laws to reduce gun violence, the nation is split 50/48 regarding whether it would be effective. Yet, 57 percent of Americans feel that guns prevent crime, and 56 percent say more concealed carry holders makes us safer. So, a lot of this comes down to a typical issue with polling: the wording. Nevertheless, assault weapons bans not receiving their typical level of support in 20 years from a left-leaning publication shows that Democrats might have exhausted this cornerstone of their gun control platform.