The issue of firearms takes a high-profile position in United States culture and politics.[23] Michael Bouchard, Assistant Director/Field Operations of ATF, estimates that 5,000 gun shows take place each year in the United States.[24] Incidents of gun violence in 'gun-free' school zones, such as the Virginia Tech massacre of 2007 have ignited debate[25] involving gun politics in the United States.
The American public strongly opposes bans on gun ownership, while strongly supporting limits on handguns and military-type semi-automatic weapons.[26]
There is a sharp divide between gun-rights proponents[27] and gun-control proponents.[28] This leads to intense political debate over the effectiveness of firearm regulation.[29]
On the whole, Republicans are far less likely to support gun control than are Democrats. According to a 2004 Harris Interactive survey:
Republicans and Democrats hold very different views on gun control. A 71% to 11% majority of Democrats favors stricter gun control, whereas Republicans are split 35% to 35%.[30]
The division of beliefs may be attributable to the fact that Republicans are more likely to own guns, according to General Social Surveys conducted during the last 35 years. The graphs, below, show that gun ownership has generally declined; however, Republicans - especially men - are far more likely to own "guns or revolvers."[31]
More recently in a 2008 survey completed by Gallup, there are large differences between Republicans and Democrats on the issues of gun ownership and control.
����¯�¿�½������¢������¯������¿������½����¯�¿�½������¢ More than half of Republicans report having a gun in their homes, while only about a third of Democrats report this.
����¯�¿�½������¢������¯������¿������½����¯�¿�½������¢ Democrats are more likely than Republicans to support the banning the possession of handguns, though a majority of both groups tend to oppose this.
����¯�¿�½������¢������¯������¿������½����¯�¿�½������¢ Two in three Republicans say they are satisfied with the nation's laws or policies on guns. This percentage is much lower among Democrats, at 37%.
����¯�¿�½������¢������¯������¿������½����¯�¿�½������¢ The strong majority of Democrats feel that gun laws in the United States should be stricter, while only about 4 in 10 Republicans feel this way. Forty-eight percent of Republicans feel gun laws should remain as they are at the present time.[32]
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