The issue is extremely divisive, falling largely along party lines.
“Democrats are nearly unanimous in their support for stricter gun laws,” another Gallup study noted, external, with nearly 91% in favour of stricter gun laws.
Only 24% Republicans, on the other hand, agreed with the same statement, along with 45% of Independent voters.
Some states have taken steps to ban or strictly regulate ownership of assault weapons. Laws vary by state but California, for example, has banned ownership of assault weapons with limited exceptions.
