Gun Control and the Intensity Gap

Will the Las Vegas massacre lead to enactment of sweeping gun-control laws.  Possible,  but highly unlikely.  As previous posts have noted:

• The NRA and related groups have millions of single-issue voters.  Anti-gun forces do not.  And the pro-gun forces are powerful in rural states.
• Support for gun control spikes after a mass shooting, but is otherwise tepid.
• Most Americans have a favorable opinion of the NRA.
• Pro-gun people are much more likely to cast their congressional vote on the basis of the issue than anti-gun people.

An August poll from NBC/Wall Street Journal:

Which of the following statements concerns you more—(ROTATE) 

Statement A: The government will go too far in restricting the rights of citizens to own guns Statement B: The government will not do enough to regulate access to firearms 

 .........................................................................................8/17  6/16  12/15   6/95 

Statement A: Too far in restricting citizen gun rights ...... 50 .....50 ....52 .......35 

Statement B: Not enough to regulate access to firearms.. 45 .....47 .....44 ......58