Poll: Majority Doubts
Tougher Gun Laws Would Help
News Release

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today a new Rasmussen survey reinforces what they have been saying for years: More gun control laws are not the answer to preventing shootings like Tuesday's New York subway attack.

According to Rasmussen, 51 percent of likely voters doubt the effectiveness of stricter gun control laws, adding that "Majorities of every political category – 67% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats and 59% of unaffiliated voters – say it's not possible to completely prevent mass shootings."

"It is significant that Rasmussen pollsters also learned that 59 percent think it's not possible to prevent the kinds of shooting incidents like what happened in Brooklyn," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "This is why we have always supported expanded concealed carry by law-abiding private citizens. If history has taught us anything, it's that violent crime does not happen on a prearranged schedule, and criminals or madmen do not call ahead to warn their victims."

Federal authorities have charged the suspect with one count of committing a terrorist or other violent attack against a mass transportation system. Prosecutors asked that he be permanently detained while awaiting trial. More charges are expected.

Rasmussen revealed that Democrats (65%) are far more likely than Republicans (23%) or Independents (38%) to believe the U.S. needs stricter gun laws. Likewise, Democrats (61%) think stricter gun laws would help prevent mass shootings, while only 18 percent of Republicans and 32 percent of Independents share that view.

"Clearly," Gottlieb observed, "the majority of Americans don't think adding restrictions on the rights of honest citizens is going to make a difference to people who are determined to commit mayhem. That has never been the case, and never will be, regardless what kind of extremist solutions are proposed by the gun prohibition crowd."

"What happened in that Brooklyn subway was unconscionable," he added, "and if the suspect is found guilty, he should face the harshest punishment. But as the Rasmussen survey shows, most Americans don't think it should result in stricter gun control laws that penalize honest gun owners for a crime they clearly did not commit."