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| Poll finds gun owners in favour of tighter restrictions on buying weapons | Poll finds gun owners in favour of tighter restrictions on buying weapons |
| (10 days later) | |
| Gun owners, including a majority of National Rifle Association members, are in favour of some forms of tighter gun laws, according to research published on Tuesday. | Gun owners, including a majority of National Rifle Association members, are in favour of some forms of tighter gun laws, according to research published on Tuesday. |
| The study, commissioned by a group of US mayors who are campaigning for tighter gun controls, shows rank-and-file NRA members support positions that are opposed by the organisation's leadership, including a ban on selling guns to people who appear on terror watchlists. | The study, commissioned by a group of US mayors who are campaigning for tighter gun controls, shows rank-and-file NRA members support positions that are opposed by the organisation's leadership, including a ban on selling guns to people who appear on terror watchlists. |
| The research goes some way towards dispelling myths surrounding the toxicity of politicians discussing gun control. Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have avoided the subject in the days following the Aurora shootings. | The research goes some way towards dispelling myths surrounding the toxicity of politicians discussing gun control. Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have avoided the subject in the days following the Aurora shootings. |
| Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York, has called on both candidates to address tighter gun control laws. Bloomberg is co-chairman of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which commissioned Republican pollster Frank Luntz to conduct the research. Luntz surveyed 945 gun owners – an even mix of current or lapsed NRA members, and non-NRA members – in May this year. | Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York, has called on both candidates to address tighter gun control laws. Bloomberg is co-chairman of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which commissioned Republican pollster Frank Luntz to conduct the research. Luntz surveyed 945 gun owners – an even mix of current or lapsed NRA members, and non-NRA members – in May this year. |
| He found that 71% of NRA members support prohibiting people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns (76% of all gun owners support the same), while 65% of NRA members back a law that would require gun owners to report a missing or stolen gun to police. | He found that 71% of NRA members support prohibiting people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns (76% of all gun owners support the same), while 65% of NRA members back a law that would require gun owners to report a missing or stolen gun to police. |
| Mayors Against Illegal Guns says that the NRA leadership is opposed to both measures. "Gun owners and NRA members overwhelmingly support common sense steps to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, even as the NRA leadership continues to oppose them," Bloomberg said. | Mayors Against Illegal Guns says that the NRA leadership is opposed to both measures. "Gun owners and NRA members overwhelmingly support common sense steps to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, even as the NRA leadership continues to oppose them," Bloomberg said. |
| "It's time for those in Washington – and those running for president – to stand with gun owning citizens who are concerned about public safety, rather than influence peddling lobbyists who are obsessed with ideology. | "It's time for those in Washington – and those running for president – to stand with gun owning citizens who are concerned about public safety, rather than influence peddling lobbyists who are obsessed with ideology. |
| "I join with NRA members in urging Washington to pass a law requiring universal background checks for all gun sales – and to take other common sense steps that will save lives." | "I join with NRA members in urging Washington to pass a law requiring universal background checks for all gun sales – and to take other common sense steps that will save lives." |
| After the Aurora shootings on Friday, Bloomberg said it was "time the two people who want to be president of the United States stand up and tell us what they're going to do about it, because this is obviously a problem across the country". | After the Aurora shootings on Friday, Bloomberg said it was "time the two people who want to be president of the United States stand up and tell us what they're going to do about it, because this is obviously a problem across the country". |
| But Obama and Romney avoided discussing the issue in the immediate aftermath, and have given no signs that it is on their agenda less than three months away from the presidential election. | But Obama and Romney avoided discussing the issue in the immediate aftermath, and have given no signs that it is on their agenda less than three months away from the presidential election. |
| On Monday Romney, who as the Republican challenger is seen as under more pressure from the anti-gun control lobby to preserve the status quo, gave an indication of his resistance to stricter gun laws. | On Monday Romney, who as the Republican challenger is seen as under more pressure from the anti-gun control lobby to preserve the status quo, gave an indication of his resistance to stricter gun laws. |
| "I still believe that the second amendment is the right course to preserve and defend and don't believe that new laws are going to make a difference in this type of tragedy," Romney told CNBC's Lawrence Kudlow in an interview. | "I still believe that the second amendment is the right course to preserve and defend and don't believe that new laws are going to make a difference in this type of tragedy," Romney told CNBC's Lawrence Kudlow in an interview. |
| Four Democratic senators called for tighter gun control on Tuesday, saying the shooting was further evidence that high-capacity ammunition clips should be banned, but the move has been rebuffed by both the Senate majority and minority leaders. | Four Democratic senators called for tighter gun control on Tuesday, saying the shooting was further evidence that high-capacity ammunition clips should be banned, but the move has been rebuffed by both the Senate majority and minority leaders. |
| Luntz's report showed that 82% of gun owners support requiring a criminal background check of anyone purchasing a gun, with some 74% of NRA members also in favour of the measure. | Luntz's report showed that 82% of gun owners support requiring a criminal background check of anyone purchasing a gun, with some 74% of NRA members also in favour of the measure. |
| NRA members also support many common state eligibility rules for concealed carrying of a gun: | NRA members also support many common state eligibility rules for concealed carrying of a gun: |
| • 75% believe concealed carry permits should only be granted to applicants who have not committed any violent misdemeanors, including assault. | • 75% believe concealed carry permits should only be granted to applicants who have not committed any violent misdemeanors, including assault. |
| • 74% believe permits should only be granted to applicants who have completed gun safety training. | • 74% believe permits should only be granted to applicants who have completed gun safety training. |
| • 68% believe permits should only be granted to applicants who do not have prior arrests for domestic violence. | • 68% believe permits should only be granted to applicants who do not have prior arrests for domestic violence. |
| • 63% believe permits should only be granted to applicants 21 years of age or older. | • 63% believe permits should only be granted to applicants 21 years of age or older. |
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