Did the senators who voted against a proposal last week to expand background checks on gun buyers take an electoral risk?
At first glance, it would seem that they did. Background checks are broadly popular with the public. Overwhelming majorities of 80 to 90 percent of the public say they favor background checks when guns are purchased at gun shows, at gun shops or online. …
And yet, the Senate did not behave as though this was a piece of legislation favored by 80 percent or more of the public. [cont.]
Nate Silver, FiveThirtyEight (NYT)
Recent polls: Guns