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[KSweeley]

Why isn't the Vegas mass-shooting changing people's opinions on guns????: https://apnews.com/2eca7f3839594f27...doesn't-change-opinions-on-guns:-AP-NORC-poll

ATLANTA (AP) — The slaying of five dozen people in Las Vegas did little to change Americans' opinions about gun laws.

The nation is closely divided on whether restricting firearms would reduce such mass shootings or homicides, though a majority favor tighter laws as they have for several years, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The massive divide on stricter limits remains firmly in place.

The survey was conducted from Oct. 12-16, about two weeks after 64-year-old Stephen Paddock fired on a crowded musical festival taking place on across the street from his hotel room, killing 58 and wounding more than 540 before killing himself. It's the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

In this latest survey, 61 percent said the country's gun laws should be tougher, while 27 percent would rather see them remain the same and 11 percent want them to be less strict. That's similar to the results of an AP-GfK poll in July 2016.

Nearly 9 in 10 Democrats, but just a third of Republicans, want to see gun laws made stricter.

Kenny Garcia, a 31-year-old resident of Stockton, California, and a former gun owner, said he's torn about whether tighter gun laws would lead to a reduction in mass shootings.

”That's the hard part," Garcia said. ”How do you control something like that when you have no idea where it's coming from, whether you control the guns or not?"

Still, he's frustrated by easy availability of some devices — such as the ”bump stocks" used by the Las Vegas shooter to make his semi-automatic guns mimic the more rapid fire of automatic weapons.

”They give people access to these things, then they question after something horrible happens, but yet the answer is right there," he said. ”It just doesn't make sense."

About half of Americans said they think making it more difficult to buy a gun would reduce the number of mass shootings in the country, and slightly under half said it would reduce the number of homicides.

About half felt it would reduce the number of accidental shootings, 4 in 10 that it would reduce the number of suicides and only about a third felt it would reduce gang violence.

Alea Leonard, a 21-year-old data analyst and full-time student, said she's torn about whether the nation's gun laws should be more strict, in part because different parts of the country have different experiences with crime.

”Here, I feel like everyone should be able to carry a .22 (caliber handgun) on them," said Leonard, who lives in Orange County, California. Her neighborhood, she said, has a high crime rate and in the five months since she moved there, a 14-year-old was shot in the back of the head.

She grew up in California, but spent some summers in Wyoming. She never before felt the need to have a gun but is now researching what it would take to carry a firearm.

There are indications of a generational divide on the issue. Most of those in the survey who are younger than 30 said they believe stricter gun laws would result in fewer mass shootings, homicides and accidental shootings.

The poll also found that a majority of Americans disapprove of how President Donald Trump is handling gun control. Trump is the first president since Ronald Reagan to address the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association. One of his sons has voiced strong support for easing the restrictions on gun silencers.

Some 59 percent voiced disapproval with Trump's handling of the issue, while 40 percent said they approved. About half of Americans age 60 and over approve of how he is handling the issue, compared with fewer than 4 in 10 of those under 60. Politically, 79 percent of people who identify as Republican approve of Trump's handling of gun issues, while 61 percent of independents and 89 percent of Democrats disapprove. Sixty percent of gun owners approve of Trump on the issue.

The poll also showed Americans divided over which party, if any, they trust to handle gun control. Close to a third give Democrats the edge while 28 percent prefer Republicans, and 31 percent say they don't trust either party.

 

[cdyhybrid]

Again, a kindergarten got shot up and nothing changed.

You're not going to change the gun worship here unless you compel it via policy and/or you get rid of the NRA and conservative propaganda outlets like Fox News.

 

[kirblar]

Why isn't the Vegas mass-shooting changing people's opinions on guns????: https://apnews.com/2eca7f3839594f27...doesn't-change-opinions-on-guns:-AP-NORC-poll

Nothing changed because the divide is still the same and rural white America still has a disproportional amount of power in all branches of government.

 

[Madness]

Murdered elementary schoolchildren did nothing to convince anyone, why would this? Some people even think it was a false flag operation. You can't reason with those folks. They are too delusional.

 

[Killa Sasa]

I realize it's moreso in flyover states and rural areas but jfc America you've got some real dead weight with some of your electorate. I guess every country does but this is enlightening in a bad way.

 

[Escape Goat]

The majority already favor more gun laws. Seems we’ve hit the ceiling on this issue. Politicians are acting contrary to public opinion on this issue.

 

[Kahoona]

It's become pretty clear that people's opinions on guns aren't going to change with one event unfortunately. It will take an information campaign that will probably need to be sustained for a generation in order to start to sway people. We can start by beginning to make people associate the NRA with these shootings.

 

[rjinaz]

Nothing will.

 

[Alcotholic]

Of course it doesn't. After the strong denial from republicans that "its innapropriate to talk about guns at a time like this" I knew they wouldn't change their opinions.
They effectively plugged their ears with their fingers and screamed "LALALALALALALALALALALA".

 

[cpp_is_king]

Why isn't the Vegas mass-shooting changing people's opinions on guns????: https://apnews.com/2eca7f3839594f27...doesn't-change-opinions-on-guns:-AP-NORC-poll

So let me get this straight.

92% say mass shootings would at worst stay the same, but perhaps go down.
95% say suicides would at worst stay the same, but perhaps go down.
91% say homicides at worst stay the same, but perhaps go down.
95% say accidental shootings at worst stay the same, but perhaps go down.
88% say gang violence at worst stay the same, but perhaps go down.

And this still isn't enough to get some gun laws passed? lol

 

[kmfdmpig]

Most people don't consume news with an open mind of a genuine interest in learning, but instead seek validation for what they already believe. This is why news has become so partisan and why people are so reluctant to change their views.

 

[Mael]

Black people should try to use the gun ownership rights and use intimidations to protect themselves and form militias.
It's the only way I can see this gun control thing going forward.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Am I reading this wrong? The majority want stricter gun control but the majority also believe it will make no difference?

 

[norm9]

Republican politician kids (probably little ones) need to die and then there might be a change. Shooter will have to be white of course. Nothing before then.

 

[Lightning_Roller]

Again, a kindergarten got shot up and nothing changed.

You're not going to change the gun worship here unless you compel it via policy and/or you get rid of the NRA and conservative propaganda outlets like Fox News.

Murdered elementary schoolchildren did nothing to convince anyone, why would this? Some people even think it was a false flag operation. You can't reason with those folks. They are too delusional.

Yep. Sandy Hook was the point where I realized that shit will never change in the country considering gun rights.

 

[Spoit]

Black people should try to use the gun ownership rights and use intimidations to protect themselves and form militias.
It's the only way I can see this gun control thing going forward.

It worked to get freaking Reagan to impose gun control laws

 

[Escape Goat]

Am I reading this wrong? The majority want stricter gun control but the majority also believe it will make no difference?

I think most favor tightening gun laws like background checks but oppose more hardline laws.

 

[Azuran]

Black people should try to use the gun ownership rights and use intimidations to protect themselves and form militias.
It's the only way I can see this gun control thing going forward.

Yeah but that would require a shitload of martyrs.

Gun control is never happening in the US.

 

[zashga]

That's a surprise. See you guys in a few months for the next senseless tragedy that we totally can't do anything to prevent. In the meantime, please refrain from pursuing gun control on the grounds that it wouldn't solve anything.

 

[WaterAstro]

Where are they even polling?

They would have to hit every state because every state has different gun laws.

If they were polling California, of course gun laws are fine there because they are as strict as Canada.

 

[Syder]

If there was no major changes after Sandy Hook there never will be.

 

[Ouroboros]

If gun laws didn’t change when that monster shot and killed children, they will never ever change.

Edit : ^ yeah what that guy said above me.

 

[Strike]

Of course it wouldn't. Sandy Hook didn't do anything. It will probably take at least a generation to change people. Something has to be done about gun culture before we can even approach serious legislation.

 

[Onemic]

I think O'reilly probably said it best that much of America thinks of these shootings as just unfortunate consequences to retaining the 2nd amendment. For them it's their rights, and no tragedy will make them want to give up that right as it's the equivalent to taking their freedom away.

Also Sandy Hook and all that

 

[yanipheonu]

One wonders what magnitude of shooting incident would have to happen to actually change things.

Because if they don't make things better, they sure as hell could get worse.

 

[Angelus Errare]

One wonders what magnitude of shooting incident would have to happen to actually change things.

Because if they don't make things better, they sure as hell could get worse.

All 13% of America's population (black folks) taking to the streets armed at the very same time the nation over.

 

[SolarPowered]

Those percentages are about right. Close to a third or so of the American population would totally be for more guns, permanent republican control of government, no environmental/financial regulation, minority voter supression, etc.

Some people just want to see the world burn or get shot to pieces.

 

[SchrodingerC]

Of course not.

Columbine didn’t change anything, Sandy Hook didn’t change anything, Pulse didn’t change shit, and a half a thousand victims weren’t going to change opinions.

Some people would rather die themselves than to give up their gun cult.

 

[old manatee]

The Las Vegas shooting solidified my opinion that it is never to soon to bring up gun control after a mass shooting.

 

[Aurongel]

The parents of several people who died in these attacks came out publically in favor of the NRA.

Literally nothing will move the needle.