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A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 28 May 2022
Continued from Front gun control policy before
they recede again.
WHAT ELSE DO AMERICANS An AP-NORC poll con-
THINK ABOUT GUN LAWS? ducted just after a shoot-
In March 2019, an AP-NORC ing at Oxford High School
poll showed a majority of in Michigan showed 24% of
U.S. adults — 58% — saying Americans — including 41%
they thought there would of Democrats — named
be fewer mass shootings gun laws in an open-end-
in the U.S. if it were harder ed question as a priority for
for people to legally obtain the government for 2022, a
guns. Many specific mea- sharp increase from just 5%
sures that would curb ac- for 2021 and 12% for 2020.
cess to guns or ammunition "Either there's going to be a
also get majority support, quick movement towards
according to polls. some gun regulation and
There is widespread agree- new gun laws or this mo-
ment on one measure in ment will pass and next
particular: making private year, we'll be talking about
gun sales subject to back- something else," he said.
ground checks. MENTAL HEALTH
Attitudes on other gun poli- Many Republican lawmak-
cies vary starkly by parti- ers have focused on men-
sanship. For example, new People gather outside the George R. Brown Convention Center to protest the National Rifle Asso- tal health as a key factor in
data from an AP-NORC poll ciation's annual meeting in Houston, Friday, May 27, 2022. preventing mass shootings
conducted earlier in May Associated Press at schools.
shows 51% of U.S. adults The 2019 AP-NORC poll
favor a nationwide ban have been prevented." gun sales rose significantly tions — even background showed bullying, along
on the sale of AR-15 rifles GUN OWNERSHIP IN THE U.S. during the COVID-19 pan- checks — have been futile with the availability of
and similar semiautomatic In April 2021, a Pew Re- demic. in Washington, met with guns, were considered
weapons, while 32% are search Center survey "The number one reason opposition from Republi- most responsible for shoot-
opposed. An additional showed gun owners much why somebody buys a fire- can lawmakers. ings in schools. About half
18% say they hold neither more likely than those with- arm is they feel like it puts Roman suggests people of Americans said these
opinion. Seventy-five per- out guns to support ex- them at less risk," said Ro- who own guns and oppose were both "a great deal"
cent of Democrats but just panding concealed carry man. "When you have an gun control have a louder to blame. In the poll, there
27% of Republicans were in and shortening waiting pe- event like COVID, where voice in the political pro- was bipartisan agreement
favor. riods for legal gun purchas- people feel like the world is cess because of their per- on bullying, but Democrats
Erica Martinez, a 37-year- es. Gun owners were much very unsafe in general, you sonal stake on the issue. were much more likely than
old in Lincoln, Nebraska, less likely to back bans on see big spikes in people Those who want stricter Republicans to blame the
said she was "horrified" and high-capacity ammunition buying one." laws have strong opinions availability of guns.
"irate" after Tuesday's mas- magazines and assault- Mike Miller, a 68-year-old about the impact of guns Derek Lavarnway, a
sacre and that there's ob- type weapons. conservative in Woodland on society, he said, but 44-year-old political inde-
viously a gun problem in Forty-six percent of U.S. Park, Colorado, said he they often lack that per- pendent in Chaumont,
this country. Laws need to adults report living in a owns guns for home de- sonal connection. New York, said his main
be stricter, she said, and it household with a gun, ac- fense, along with hunting. "Your own costs and ben- concern is mental health.
should be harder for some- cording to a March poll "I think it's in our constitu- efits are always more mo- "I think there's a balance
one to get a gun. from NORC at the Universi- tion, and I think we have tivating, galvanizing, they between gun control and,
"These school shootings are ty of Chicago. Five percent the right to have our weap- create stronger preferenc- you know, figuring out ways
becoming more prevalent said they purchased a gun ons," he said. "I don't think es than the sort of concep- to get people feeling bet-
now, and there's just too for the first time during the that's a problem with like tual, theoretical preferenc- ter about themselves and
many innocent little lives pandemic, and those first the shooting that just hap- es," he said. their lives," he said. "We
that are lost because this time gun owners tend to pened. I think it's bigger is- The voices of those looking desperately need to some-
18-year-old kid was able share policy preferences sues." for restrictions tend to get how find a way for a soci-
to just go and buy a gun," with long term gun owners, WHO IS MORE MOTIVATED louder after a mass shoot- ety that creates individuals
Martinez said. "I honestly NORC's Roman said. ON THE ISSUE? ing, Roman said, creating a that don't do these sorts of
and truly think that it could Federal data also shows Efforts to pass gun restric- window of opportunity for things."q

U.S. levels new sanctions after North

Korea missile launches

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER intercontinental ballistic pand the range of its nu-
Associated Press missile. clear and missile programs.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The The launches happened Friday's sanctions targets
U.S. targeted two Russian after President Joe Biden include two Russian banks,
banks Friday as part of new ended an Asian trip in Far Eastern and Sputnik,
sanctions over alleged sup- which he stressed Wash- that the U.S. says do busi-
port for North Korea and its ington's commitment to ness with U.S.-sanctioned
nuclear and ballistic missile defending allies from the North Korean entities. Bank
programs. North's nuclear threat. Sputnik also helped North
The sanctions come after The U.S. says this week's Korea arrange payments
what the U.S. says were launches brought North for the use of Russian sat-
South Korean and U.S. missiles are displayed at Korea War Me- three new ballistic missile Korea's total for this year to ellite services, the Treasury
morial Museum in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, May 26, 2022. launches by North Korea 23, as the isolated country Department said in an-
Associated Press
on Tuesday, including one pushes to develop and ex- nouncing the sanctions.q