ABC/Wash Post Poll: Most Americans Oppose Assault Weapons Ban

A majority of Americans – 53 percent – oppose banning the sale of assault weapons, according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.

The poll also shows most Americans don't have confidence that the government has the ability to prevent lone wolf terrorist attacks.

• Oppose a ban: 53 percent
• Support a ban: 45 percent

The 45 percent who now favor a ban on the sale of assault-style weapons is down 11 percent from the last time the poll was taken in 2013. Support has steadily dropped, except for a slight uptick in 2011, since a record 80 percent favored a ban in 1994.

There is a correlation between those who believe the government cannot prevent attacks and those who think more people should carry guns.

Just more than 50 percent who think the government cannot prevent lone-wolf attacks oppose banning assault weapons while only about 40 percent favor it. Those numbers are reversed among those who feel the government can prevent such attacks.

Only seven demographic groups still support banning assault weapons: women, Northeasterners, senior citizens, post-graduates, liberals, Democrats and blacks, ABC News reported.

Among the poll's other findings:

How best to prevent terrorism:

• Encourage people to carry guns: 47 percent
• Stricter gun control laws: 42 percent

Government can prevent lone wolf attacks:

• Less confident: 77 percent
• More confident: 22 percent

Government can prevent large-scale attacks:

• Less confident: 56 percent
• More confident: 43 percent

The poll was conducted Dec. 10-13 and spoke to 1,002 adults. It has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5 points.

Related Stories:

• White House Turning to Governors to Boost Gun Agenda
• Dems Lose Fight to End Gun Research Ban