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Wednesday 24 august 2022
AP-NORC poll: Most in U.S. say they want stricter gun laws

By SARA BURNETT “I think people would start
Associated Press trying to hoard guns,” she
CHICAGO (AP) — Most U.S. said, adding that a better
adults want to see gun laws approach is to make small-
made stricter and think gun er changes and see what
violence is increasing na- impact they have.
tionwide, according to a The poll shows bipartisan
new poll that finds broad majorities of Americans
public support for a variety support a nationwide
of gun restrictions, includ- background check policy
ing many that are support- for all gun sales, a law pre-
ed by majorities of Republi- venting mentally ill people
cans and gun owners. from purchasing guns, al-
The poll by the University of lowing courts to temporar-
Chicago Harris School of ily prevent people who are
Public Policy and The Asso- considered a danger to
ciated Press-NORC Center themselves or others from
for Public Affairs Research purchasing a gun, making
shows 71% of Americans say 21 the minimum age to buy
gun laws should be stricter, a gun nationwide and ban-
including about half of Re- ning those who have been
publicans, the vast majority convicted of domestic vio-
of Democrats and a major- lence from purchasing a
ity of those in gun-owning In this July 20, 2014 photo, with guns displayed for sale behind her, a gun store employee helps gun.
households. a customer at Dragonman's, east of Colorado Springs, Colo. Two gun rights organizations filed A smaller majority of Ameri-
The poll was conducted federal court lawsuits on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 challenging bans on semi-automatic weapons cans — 59% — favor a ban
between July 28 and Aug. and magazine ammunition restrictions adopted by two Colorado cities after the state allowed on the sale of AR-15 rifles
1, after a string of deadly local municipalities to enact tougher gun control measures than called for by state law. and similar semiautomatic
mass shootings — from a Associated Press weapons, with Democrats
New York grocery store to many voters, making it diffi- addressing gun violence to supports some gun restric- more likely to support that
a school in Texas and a July cult to change gun laws. In be approved in Congress in tions, such as prohibiting policy than Republicans,
4 parade in Illinois — and June, a conservative ma- decades — an indication people convicted of do- 83% vs. 35%.
a 2020 spike in gun killings jority on the Supreme Court of how intractable the issue mestic violence from own- Chris Boylan, 47, from In-
that have increased at- expanded gun rights, find- has become. ing firearms and a federal dianapolis, opposes restric-
tention on the issue of gun ing a constitutional right to The poll finds that majori- law preventing mentally tions on guns. As a teacher
violence. Overall, 8 in 10 carry firearms in public for ties of U.S. adults view both ill people from purchasing for many years, Boylan said
Americans perceive that self-defense. reducing gun violence and guns. he has “buried more kids
gun violence is increasing Later that same month, protecting gun ownership She said other restrictions than I care to count” and
around the country, and President Joe Biden signed as important issues. — such as banning sales believes gun violence is
about two-thirds say it’s a bipartisan gun safety bill. Nicole Whitelaw, 29, is a of AR-15 rifles — are “going a major problem. But the
increasing in their state, The package, approved Democrat and gun own- too far” and may not solve Republican, who said he
though less than half be- in the wake of shootings er who grew up hunting the problem. Whitelaw leans more toward Libertar-
lieve it’s increasing in their like the one that killed 19 and target shooting in up- pointed to the the early ian in his personal stances,
community, the poll shows. children and two teachers state New York with her days of the COVID-19 pan- believes the issue is more
The question of how to in Uvalde, Texas, was both strongly Republican family. demic, when many people about mental health and a
prevent such violence has a measured compromise Whitelaw, who now lives bought up all the toilet pa- too-lenient criminal justice
long divided politicians and and the most significant bill along Florida’s Gulf Coast, per they could find. system.q

Biden administration forecasts $1.03T

deficit, down $400B

due in part to stronger than nifies a movement away up the historic economic
expected revenues, re- from the record deficit in gains we've made over the
duced spending, and an 2020, which reached $3.13 past 18 months," said Sha-
economy that has recov- trillion. landa Young, director of
ered all of the jobs lost dur- The administration's Mid- the Office of Management
ing the multi-year pandem- Session Review said much and Budget in a statement.
ic. In full, this year's deficit of the improvement in the "While costs are still too high
will decline by $1.7 trillion, deficit forecast for this year for too many families, the
representing the single larg- stemmed from the econo- President's economic plan
est decline in the federal my "transitioning from a his- is working and we're on the
deficit in American history, toric and rapid recovery to right track," she said.
Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young,
second from left, speaks during a briefing at the White House in the Office of Management stable and steady growth." Because the projections
Washington, May 16, 2022. and Budget says. The administration sees in- of the Mid-Session Review
Associated Press Despite the gains, the ad- flation pressures remaining were finalized in June, it
ministration said Tuesday into 2023, however. does not include the $280
By FATIMA HUSSEIN casting that this year's bud- that it is forecasting a defi- "The President's top eco- billion CHIPS and Science
Associated Press get deficit will be nearly cit of $1.03 trillion for the nomic priority continues to Act and estimated $740
WASHINGTON (AP) — The $400 billion lower than it budget year that ends be tackling the challenge billion climate, healthcare
Biden administration is fore- estimated back in March, Sept. 30. That number sig- of inflation, without giving and tax measure. q