Views Return of Gun Control vs. Rights Return to Pre- Newtown Levels Rights
Yet the overall trend on whether it is more important to control gun ownership or protect gun rights has edged back in the direction of gun rights. And when it comes to the importance of gun policy as a voting issue, gun rights supporters have the advantage.
In the days after the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. last December, more prioritized gun control than gun rights (49% vs. 42%), the first time this had occurred since Barack Obama became president. Roughly five months later, the public is again evenly divided over whether in general it is more important to control gun ownership (50%) or to protect the rights of Americans to own guns (48%). This mirrors the close divide in opinion that existed prior to Newtown. (See Pew Research Center’s 20 years of public opinion data on gun rights and gun control.)
Views Return of Gun Control vs. Rights  | Return to Pre- Newtown Levels Rights  | 75  | What do you think  | is more important... ?  | To control  | gun ownership  | 51  | 50  | 50  | ATALISM 49  | ATALISM 49  | 50  | K  | 48  | 46  | 46  | 45  | 42  | To protectthe rightof  | Americans to own guns  | Newtown  | 12/14  | 25  | Dec  | Jan  | Feb  | May 1-5  | July  | 2012 17-19 9-13 13-18  | May 1-5  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER May 1-5, 2013, Q40 