Universal Gun Background Check Hits New Support High: QU Poll

HAMDEN, CT — American voters overwhelmingly support universal background checks for gun purchases by a margin of 95-4 percent. Support is 94-5 percent among households where there is a gun.

"With each American gun massacre, there is stronger voter support for tighter gun control measures," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

It's the highest level of support for the measure since the Qunnipiac University Poll first asked the question in 2013 after the Sandy Hook school shooting. Voters also support 65-31 percent a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons.

Voters also polled said 91-7 percent that people convicted of a violent crime shouldn't be allowed to buy a gun.

There was also support 74-24 percent for a ban on the sale of gun modifications that can make a gun work more like a fully automatic weapon. The question comes after 58 were killed and 546 injured following a mass shooting at a concert in Las Vegas where the attacker used bump stocks to make his semiautomatic weapons fire at a rate close to a fully automatic weapon.

The poll found that 52 percent of voters felt that difficult access to mental health care was a bigger reason for mass shootings while 37 percent said it was the ease of buying guns.

The majority of people felt that shooters would find a way around stricter gun laws if they intend to commit a mass shooting.

Tax Overhaul

Voters disapproved of the Republican tax plan by a margin of 52-25 percent with 61 percent saying it would mainly benefit the wealthy with 24 percent believing it would mainly benefit the middle class.

Only 16 percent felt that their taxes would be reduced by the plan, 35 percent said it would increase their taxes and 36 percent said there would be little impact.

Image via Morgan Lee/AP