Support for gun rights and against restrictions is steadily increasing, violent crime rates have almost been cut in half over the last 20 years, firearm laws have liberalized across most of the nation, and even the Supreme Court has affirmed an individual right to keep and bear arms (consistent with our own Democratic Platform).
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/oct/02/mass-shootings-have-no-impact-on-support-for-gun-rights-in-the-us
http://www.gallup.com/poll/179213/six-americans-say-guns-homes-safer.aspx
http://www.gallup.com/poll/179045/less-half-americans-support-stricter-gun-laws.aspx
http://www.people-press.org/2014/12/10/growing-public-support-for-gun-rights/
Firearms. We recognize that the individual right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve Americans' Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation. We understand the terrible consequences of gun violence; it serves as a reminder that life is fragile, and our time here is limited and precious. We believe in an honest, open national conversation about firearms. We can focus on effective enforcement of existing laws, especially strengthening our background check system, and we can work together to enact commonsense improvementslike reinstating the assault weapons ban and closing the gun show loopholeso that guns do not fall into the hands of those irresponsible, law-breaking few.
https://www.democrats.org/party-platform
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