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Americans Back Ban on Semi-Automatic Guns
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States believe a specific kind of weapon should be forbidden, according to a poll by Knowledge Networks released by the Associated Press and Yahoo. 55 per cent of respondents support a law requiring a nationwide ban on semi-automatic handguns, which automatically re-load every time they are fired.
In addition, 77 per cent of respondents think people in their community should be allowed to keep handguns in their homes.
The U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment guarantees Americans the right "to keep and bear arms." Some American states have enacted their own gun control regulations, independent of existing federal legislation.
Earlier this month, African American leader Jesse Jackson discussed the current state of affairs, saying, "We should revive our ban on semi-automatic weapons. You only use them to kill people."
Polling Data
Would you support or oppose a law requiring a nationwide ban on semi-automatic handguns, which automatically re-load every time they are fired?
|
Strongly support |
35% |
|
Somewhat support |
20% |
|
Somewhat oppose |
22% |
|
Strongly oppose |
23% |
Should people in your community be allowed to keep handguns in their homes, or not?
|
Should be allowed |
77% |
|
Should not be allowed |
23% |
Source: Knowledge Networks / Associated Press / Yahoo
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,844 American adults, conducted from Apr. 2 to Apr. 14, 2008. Margin of error is 2.3 per cent.