Four years into the 2018 Parkland shooting, the push for tighter gun control remains up in the air. In a new poll, only 52% of Americans want stricter laws covering the sale of firearms. This is the lowest percentage recorded by Gallup since 2014.
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Gun Control Proponents In Decline
The decline in support for tighter gun control shows an erosion from three years ago. In 2018, when the Parkland shooting killed 17 people, around 66% of respondents said they want stricter gun control laws.
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A 1999 Columbine high school survivor, Melissa Strassner, was hopeful Parkland will change things. “Something about Parkland has been different.
They truly have inspired a nation,” she said. Sentiment about tightening laws about who can buy and own guns rose. Even state legislatures pushed for stricter policies.
However, a year later in 2019, only 64% of Americans still insist on stricter gun laws. However, 2019 marked a steady decline in gun control support. In 2020, the number of supporters fell to 57%. This year, it’s down to its lowest since 2014 with only 52%.
Trends On Gun Control Based On High Profile Cases And Who Won The Elections
Poll-taker Gallup noted in its release of the 2021 survey results conforms to a trend. Americans' support for stricter gun laws typically rises after a high-profile mass shooting. Without news like this, support for gun control usually falls.
In addition, whoever occupies the White House can also influence the debate on gun control. When a Republican holds the presidency, more Americans demand tighter gun laws.
When a Democrat is in power, like it is now, there are fewer advocates for stricter gun laws.
2018 Was A High Point For Gun Control Advocacy
Pew Research noted in 2018 that many reactions spawned from Parkland. “This was a year of unparalleled success for the gun-control movement in the United States.
States across the country, including 14 with Republican governors, enacted 50 new laws restricting access to guns,” it said. Actions ranged from banning bump stocks to allowing authorities to temporarily disarm potentially violent people.
However, promoting these ideas at the federal level remains a challenging task. President Joe Biden himself called on Congress to introduce tighter laws on gun ownership during Parkland’s 3rd anniversary.
He called on lawmakers to “enact common-sense gun law reforms” including background checks and banning assault weapons. Biden also wanted to strip immunity from gun manufacturers.
“We owe it to all those we've lost and to all those left behind to grieve to make a change. The time to act is now,” he said.
House Passes Background Check Laws, Senate Not Inclined To Do The Same
The Democrat-majority House managed to pass two measures to tighten background checks on firearms purchases. However, the Senate doesn’t have any plans to pass counterpart measures.
As a result, Americans are buying more guns than ever before. Last year, in the wake of a series of riots, Americans bought a record 23 million guns for their personal use.
The upward trend in owning guns continues in 2021. A new Quinnipiac poll also released this week showed a split between registered voters on gun control. 47% supported tighter gun control laws while 48% opposed them.
Watch the Langley Outdoors Academy video reporting that new gun law Gallup poll results are nightmare fuel for gun controllers:
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