President Barack Obama's goal of tighter gun restrictions faces a tough hurdle: the American public.
The Wall Street Journal reports that public support for the National Rifle Association has increased in the past several decades.
Thirty years ago, 27 percent said they supported the NRA. That number had jumped to 38 percent in December, while those opposing the group has fallen.
That support has lawmakers in Congress — where Republicans hold majorities in both houses — unlikely to do take any action that would be seen as restricting gun ownership.
In fact, registered voters in a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll in December said they were more worried about government going too far restricting gun rights than not going far enough. It was the other way around in 1995.
NRA support is, unsurprisingly, strongest among Republicans, where 59 percent back the gun lobbying group, compared to only 11 percent of Democrats. But among independents, 41 percent have a favorable view as compared to only 19 percent who view it unfavorably.
More people have a favorable view of the NRA than of either political party or the Supreme Court.
And though 86 percent of all Americans favor background checks, only 19 percent believe it would have a great effect in stopping mass shootings.
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