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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
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Americans Agree on Causes of Mass Shootings

Democrats and Republicans agree: Mass shootings stem from the mental health system, racism and white nationalism, and lax gun-control laws, according to a poll released Tuesday, and most want Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to call an emergency session and pass a gun control bill already approved by the U.S. House.

(CN) – Democrats and Republicans agree: Mass shootings stem from the mental health system, racism and white nationalism, and lax gun-control laws, according to a poll released Tuesday, and most want Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to call an emergency session and pass a gun control bill already approved by the U.S. House.

The poll, commissioned by USA Today and carried out by market researcher Ipsos, was taken Monday and Tuesday in the aftermath of deadly shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, that killed at least 31 and wounded dozens more between the ages of 2 and 82. In the wake of such violence, 15% percent of the 1,004 adult Americans polled said they feel unsafe in public spaces and 21% said they had avoided public spaces packed with people that seemed vulnerable to shootings.

Though the majority across party lines blamed mass shootings on the mental health system, racism and white nationalism and loose gun laws, Republicans and Democrats were at odds on whether gun manufacturers and the NRA, President Donald Trump and violent video games are also responsible. Democrats were more likely to blame the first two, where Republicans cited the latter.

Agreement resurfaced over gun control laws, with 67% of those polled – including 79% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans saying the Senate should pass bills approved by the House that would increase background checks. And the majority, 52%, said McConnell should cancel the Senate recess to hold hearings and vote on those bills.

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