Support growing for stricter weapons laws

Nearly two-thirds of respondents expressed support for stricter laws, with majorities favoring nationwide bans on the sale of semiautomatic assault weapons such as the AR-15 and on the sale of high-capacity magazines holding 10 or more bullets.

The percentage of Americans who want such laws is the highest since the AP-GfK poll started asking the question in 2013, a survey taken about 10 months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 children and six educators.

Strong majorities of those polled expressed some degree of concern that they or a relative will be a victim of gun violence or a mass shooting.

A majority of respondents expressed a desire for a national approach to gun laws, rather than a patchwork of state laws or local regulations, even though Congress has thus far failed to act on many of the initiatives the poll showed Americans support.

Strong majorities of Democrats and Republicans said they support requiring background checks for people buying firearms at gun shows and through other private sales.