According to a new poll conducted by Washington Post-ABC News, 57 percent of Americans feel the mass shootings in the country are more a reflection of issues identifying and treating people with mental health problems versus 28 percent pointing to inadequate gun control laws.
Nine percent felt both equally played a role, 2 percent felt neither and 4 percent had no opinion.
Still, the survey showed 50 percent of Americans support a ban on the sale of assault weapons, versus 46 percent who oppose a ban. Fifty-eight percent felt the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, FL this week could have been prevented by stricter gun control laws versus 37 percent who didn’t.
Forty-two percent felt the mass shooting in Parkland could have been prevented by allowing school teachers to carry guns, versus 51 percent who didn’t think so.
Of the respondents, a net 77 percent agreed that Congress is or is not doing enough to try to prevent mass shootings in the country. Fifty-nine percent felt way strongly that Congress was doing enough, while 17 percent felt somewhat strongly that Congress was not doing enough. One percent felt Congress was not doing enough but had no opinion on intensity.
Only 19 percent (11 percent very strongly, 8 percent somewhat strongly) felt Congress was doing enough. Four percent had no opinion.
Asked if President Trump is or is not doing enough to try to prevent mass shootings in this country, a net 62 percent (50 percent very strongly, 11 percent somewhat strongly) felt he as not doing enough. A net 29 percent (21 percent very strongly, 8 percent somewhat strongly) felt Trump was doing enough. Nine percent weren’t sure or had no opinion.
The Post-ABC poll was conducted Feb. 15-18 among a random sample of 808 adults reached on cell and landline phones with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points. Of the respondents, 31 percent identified themselves as democrats; 24 percent republican; 40 percent, independent.
The Parkland shooting, which left 15 students and two teachers dead, occurred on February 14.
The Post-ABC poll is HERE.
Photo courtesy Remington
