Washington sources have stated that three quarters of Americans said gun laws should be stricter than they are today, up from 68% in a October 2017 survey following the Las Vegas shooting, Xinhua cited the latest poll as saying that the poll also found widespread bipartisan support for gun control policies, including expanding background check for all gun buyers (94%), adding people with mental illnesses to the federal gun background check system (92%), raising the legal age to purchase guns from 18 to 21 (82%), banning bump stocks (81%), banning high-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds (73%) and banning assault-style weapons (72%).
However, there was a clear cut partisan gulf since 68% of Republicans favored US President Donald Trump’s proposal of training teachers to carry guns in schools, compared to just 18 per cent of Democrats. Meanwhile overall, 59% of the polled said they opposed to Trump’s idea, which was previously proposed by the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Moreover
in a televised White House meeting with lawmakers on Wednesday, Trump suggested
he was open to expanding background checks and possibly raising the age to
purchase an AR-15, questioning Republicans’ relationship with the NRA. Further Trump
told Republican lawmakers at the meeting that they have great power over you
people. They have less power over him”. “Some of you people are petrified of
the NRA. You can’t be petrified.”
