A new poll found that a remarkable number of Republican voters believe nothing can be done in the future to prevent mass shootings.
A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted from June 1-3 asked respondents if mass shootings are “something we have to accept as part of a free society” or if they’re something “we can prevent and stop if we really tried.” Overall, most Americans rejected the first premise, with just 28 percent saying mass shootings are something we now have to live with, while 72 percent said that mass shootings are a phenomenon we can put an end to.
The poll revealed sharp partisan differences. Eighty-five% of Democrats agreed that mass shootings can be prevented, while 73 per cent of independents agreed. But Republicans were more likely have a pessimistic outlook.
Although 56 percent of Republican respondents said that mass shootings could be stopped if we tried hard, 44 percent stated that they are a cost of living in a free society.
The numbers are alarming especially after recent mass shootings which occurred in Uvalde, Texas, Buffalo, New York, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and other areas of the country.
Those shootings and years of inaction on the issue have led a group of bipartisan lawmakers in Congress to draft a new bill to address gun violence in the U.S. — but because they are hoping to garner enough votes to avoid a Republican filibuster, it’s likely that lawmakers will not include several measures that President Joe Biden recently called forThis includes a renewal or expansion of the assault weapons ban and a federal background check for all gun sales.
Instead, the proposal will likely concentrate on expanding so-called “red flag” lawsAs well as addressing mental healthcare and increasing accessibility to care, Security standards for schools.
Senator Chris Murphy (D.Connecticut), acknowledged the difficulties in the negotiations and expressed optimism that legislation would be passed.
“It’s really tough sledding,” he said on Sunday. “But I’ve never been part of conversations that are this serious and this thoughtful before, and I know all the Republicans and Democrats who are at the table are there with total sincerity to get an agreement.”
Still, there’s no guarantee that a bipartisan bill will be passed, and indeed, A significant percentage of Americans don’t believe anything can be doneIn the near future, mass shootings will be addressed.
Rep. Don Beyer (D.Virginia), has been drafting a gun-reform proposal. This could be passed through the reconciliation processThe bill could be passed with a simple majority vote in the Senate, bypassing a Republican filibuster. The measure would tax assault weapons, and other gun accessories at a rate 1,000 percent, making them more expensive and thus more difficult to buy.
The bill would “restrict the flow of weapons of war into American communities – including AR-15’s and high capacity magazines,” Beyer wrote on Twitter this week.
