Views of Gun Control: 1993- 2013 Percent of American adults who say it is more important to NEWTOWN 20
The idea that Newtown might lead to a sea change in public opinion on gun control had some basis in a Pew Research Center survey conducted less than a week after the shootings. About half of Americans (49%) said it was more important to control gun ownership while 42% said it was more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns. Although the numbers added up to just a modest change, it was the first time during Barack Obama’s presidency that more Americans came down on the side of making gun control the priority.
Views of Gun Control: 1993- 2013  | Percent of American adults who say it is more important to  | NEWTOWN  | 80  | DEC 14, 2012  | 66  | Control gun ownership  | .58  | 60  | 50  | 49 48  | 40  | 45  | 37  | 34  | 29  | Protect the fright of  | mericans to fright own guns  | 20  | JAN  | MAY  | 1993  | 2000  | 2007  | 2013  | 2012  | 2013  | Source: Pew Research Center surveys, 1993- 2013  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 