Huge Majority Still Favors Plugging Background Check Holes

It has been said that Congress won't plug the gaping holes in the background check law for gun buyers because they lack the political courage. They are afraid the voters will punish them if they do that. That's pure bullshit!

No politician would be punished for closing the holes in the background check law (which still allow 40% of all gun sales to be done each year without any background check). About 77% of the public wants that to be done, while only 12% oppose it -- and that is true of every group, even Republicans (where only 14% would oppose it).

Any politician could easily defend passing such a law. It doesn't require political courage -- only the willingness to forgo getting campaign money from the NRA. Unfortunately, too many in Congress (in both political parties, but especially Republicans) have sold their vote to the NRA (which is now controlled by gun manufacturers -- not gun owners).

Closing the holes in the background check law simply makes sense. It would not violate the Second Amendment, and it would not keep law-abiding citizens from buying and possessing a firearm. What it would do is save American lives.

The chart above reflects the results of a new Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between November 12th and 14th of a random national sample of 1,500 adults (including 1,281 registered voters), with a 3 point margin of error.