As President Obama prepares to update Congress and Americans about his agenda at tonight’s State of the Union address, a new CBS News poll shows he receives public support for many of his policies. Americans favor a combination of spending cuts and taxes to tackle the deficit (59 percent); stricter […] Read more »
Why Understanding the Gun Control Debate Means Understanding Demographics
To understand the peculiar politics of passing gun reform legislation, it’s important to understand the link between gun ownership and demography and the increasingly important role that demography plays in voting behavior. [cont.] Amy Walter, Cook Political Report Recent polls: Guns Read more »
Americans not ready for gun bans
We all know that public opinion, as expressed through polls, doesn’t dictate political outcomes. Otherwise, Congress would be homeless and living under a bridge, dreaming about the good ol’ days before job approval ratings of 14 to 17 percent. No, polls and the public opinion they reflect don’t rule. But […] Read more »
Oregonians skeptical of gun control in general, but support some new firearm restrictions
More than in the rest of the country, Oregonians express strong support for gun rights – but they still support some additional restrictions on firearms. That’s the key finding of a statewide survey conducted for The Oregonian that found a strong majority in favor of expanding background checks. Much narrower […] Read more »
After Newtown — Public Opinion on Gun Policy and Mental Illness
… As policymakers consider options to reduce gun violence, they should understand public attitudes about various violence-prevention proposals, including policies affecting persons with mental illness; past research findings on Americans’ attitudes about policies for curbing gun violence need to be updated. In the aftermath of Sandy Hook, it’s also important […] Read more »
Study: The U.S. has had one mass shooting per month since 2009
… So how much do we actually know about mass shootings and the people who commit them? A new study commissioned by Mayors Against Illegal Violence tries to add some much-needed detail. [cont.] Brad Plumer, Washington Post Read more »