Bearing arms

Americans want stricter laws when it comes to gun sales. Just take a look at two recent Gallup polls: the desire reaches across party lines. Since November 2016, Democrats, Republicans and independents have shown increased support for a tightening of laws surrounding the sale of firearms. In fact, this desire, in the wake of the Las Vegas and Parkland, Fla., shootings, is the highest it has been since December 1993, with 67 percent of Americans in favor. Compare that to 28 percent who say gun laws should stay as is, and 4 percent who say they should be loosened. Support for stricter laws is highest among Democrats, at 90 percent, compared to 65 percent of independents and 41 percent of Republicans. However, only a slim majority of Republicans, 52 percent, said they’d like to keep gun laws as they are now. Gun control remains one of Americans’ highest-ranked issues, Gallup found, following dissatisfaction with the government, immigration and race relations.