The mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that killed at least 19 children and two adults has caused a surge of support for stricter gun measures, according to a new Morning Consult/Politico poll.
Protestors take part in a rally of Moms against gun violence.
A poll conducted on Wednesday after the Uvalde shooting found that 65% of registered voters support stricter federal gun laws, up from 40% less than a week ago.
The increase was driven by Independents, who went up from 56% last week to 66% now, and Republicans, who went from 37% to 44%.
That surge is likely part of a broader trend noted by Gallup in which support for stricter gun control historically increases immediately after a major shooting and then goes down when the memory of each shooting fades.
recede[s].”The polling shows that support for stricter gun measures went up after the Sandy Hook shooting in December of 2012 and after the massacre at the Ecole Polytechnique in April of 1999.
By December 1999, support dropped to 60%, by September 2013 to 49%, and by October to 61%.
In 2020 and 2021, a lack of high-profile mass shootings resulted in plunging support for gun control: Gallup found the share favoring stricter gun laws hit its lowest point since 2014 in 2021, after already dropping by seven percentage points in 2020.
50%. According to Morning Consult's polling, the share of Republicans who supported stricter gun laws after the Las Vegas shooting was the highest since at least 2015. The GOP's support was down to 34% by March 2021.
The Morning Consult/Politico poll found that 85% of Republicans support background checks for all gun sales, 80% support a three-day waiting period for gun sales, and 50% support banning guns. People on the no-fly list, those who have been deemed dangerous by a mental health provider, and those convicted of violent crimes should not be able to buy guns. More Republicans were in favor of banning guns from universities and schools than were in favor of banning guns from workplace settings. The support is largely in line with other polling from 2021, suggesting Republicans' feelings on specific measures doesn't change as much as their support on stricter gun laws.
Whether Congress will use the surge in gun control support to take action before the nation moves on from the latest mass shootings. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer won't force a vote this week on legislation expanding background checks that has already passed the House. McConnell told CNN that he had directed Cornyn to start negotiations on more bipartisan legislation.
The suspect in the Uvalde shooting purchased two rifles legally days before the attack, according to law enforcement, and they believe he used high-capacity magazines that some gun control proposals would outlaw. The suspect in the Buffalo shooting has said that he illegally modified the weapon to use high-capacity magazines that are not allowed in New York.
Republican and Independent Voters increased their support for gun control after the Texas shooting.
Most voters want Congress to pass stricter gun laws.
Schumer says there will be no gun vote soon.
What we know about the Uvalde shooting is here.
McConnell asked Cornyn to work on gun legislation.
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