Oct 2, 2017

Where Americans agree and disagree on gun control

While rigid partisanship seems to rule the gun control debate, both Republicans and Democrats tend to agree that those with mental disabilities and those on no-fly or watch lists should be barred from legally owning guns, according to a Pew Research Center poll from this spring.

But... Some of the widest partisan divides over gun control policies involve allowing teachers to carry guns and permitting concealed carry in more places. Republicans and Democrats also differ greatly when it comes to the role legal gun access has in gun violence, with 43% of Democrats believing it contributes a great deal, compared to only 15% of Republicans.

Data: Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted March 13-27 and April 4-18, 2017; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon / Axios

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer

Trump praises Texas parishioners who fatally shot gunman and state gun laws

President Trump tweeted his praise Monday for the parishioners who returned fire on a gunman on a gunman who entered their church in Fort Worth, Texas, and the state's gun laws.

"Our prayers are with the families of the victims and the congregation of yesterday’s church attack. It was over in 6 seconds thanks to the brave parishioners who acted to protect 242 fellow worshippers. Lives were saved by these heroes, and Texas laws allowing them to carry arms!"

Go deeperDec 31, 2019

Neal Rothschild

Guns surpass immigration as biggest non-impeachment issue

Data: NewsWhip; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios - Note: Hover over the weekly rank on desktop to see articles and interactions for each candidate and issue.

It has hardly registered while impeachment consumes the country, but gun control has passed immigration as the issue generating the next most interest online over the last four months, according to data from NewsWhip provided exclusively to Axios.

Why it matters: In a trend that could help shape the 2020 races, immigration — an issue that animates the right — is being usurped by a topic that animates the left.

Go deeperDec 19, 2019

Rashaan Ayesh

New Zealanders hand over 50,000 semi-automatic weapons to government

Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images

The government of New Zealand said on Saturday that roughly 33,000 gun owners turned in more than 50,000 firearms as part of a six-month buyback program following an assault weapons ban that wrapped up Friday at midnight, AP reports.

Why it matters: The government banned most semi-automatic weapons within a month of the Christchurch mosque attack, which killed 51 people. However, critics claim many owners have illegally kept their firearms, AP writes.

Go deeperDec 21, 2019