Americans are now arguably at the height of post-Newtown gun control frenzy. But the latest Gallup poll on firearms shows a slim majority of 51% still opposing outlawing “assault rifles,” the very popular semi-automatic rifles more properly called modern sporting rifles. Ominously, they are leaning toward more restrictions on firearm purchases and outlawing “high-capacity ammunition clips that can contain more than 10 bullets.” But a record majority (74%) still opposes a broad ban on handguns, and the 24% in favor of a ban is the lowest recorded since Gallup began asking the question in 1959.
The entire poll is a quick read and is very informative. It gives us some guidance about what we need to do to educate the public in the coming months. We can expect gun control fervor to fade as reality replaces emotion. As always, our job is education of the public about guns and gun owners. They have come a long way in understanding the real issues over the last 20 years. Let’s continue the trend.
—Timothy Wheeler, MD is director of Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership, a project of the Second Amendment Foundation.