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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGOP Politicians Are Much More Resistant To Gun Control Than GOP Voters Are
Polls show that Republican voters prioritize gun rights over gun control but arent universally opposed to restrictions on firearms. In fact, most Republicans support expanding background checks. Most back red flag provisions allowing the police to take guns away from people deemed dangerous by a judge. A majority support requiring a license to purchase a gun.
So with Democrats calling on the GOP-controlled Senate to take action on gun control in the wake of last weekends mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio in particular, to pass a bill adopted in February by the Democratic-controlled House that would essentially create universal background checks will anything happen?
It isnt impossible. President Trump suggested in a speech on Monday that he would push for red flag laws. But Trump has indicated support for gun control measures after previous mass shootings, and then either backtracked or done little as the measures failed to move through Congress. And indeed, Republicans in Congress have blocked every recent attempt to pass major new gun control laws.
Dont be surprised if that happens again. Its not that Republican voters are adamantly opposed to gun control, as the data above shows. But the Republican Party as an institution is hostile to gun control measures.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/gop-politicians-are-much-more-resistant-to-gun-control-than-gop-voters/
It's all that NRA money.
Shrike47
(6,913 posts)grumpyduck
(6,236 posts)They're not campaign contributions - they're legalized bribes.
world wide wally
(21,743 posts)Proud Liberal Dem
(24,412 posts)they have options.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,346 posts)Anyone who is still a Republican at this time is an advocate for no gun control in spite of mass murders, racism, xenophobia, white nationalism (white supremacy), pollution for profit, profits over health care, and the demonization and threatening of anyone not in the GOP.