HarrisX Poll: Just 24% Blame Shootings on Weak Gun Laws

Thirty percent of registered voters say mental illness is to blame for mass shootings in the United States, according to a new Hill-HarrisX poll published Monday.

The survey comes after two recent mass shootings left 31 dead and dozens more injured. In El Paso, Texas, Patrick Crusius opened fire at a Walmart last Saturday, killing 22. He was charged with capital murder and is awaiting trial. In Dayton, Ohio, a day later, Connor Betts donned body armor and a mask before opening fire outside a bar with an AR-15 style weapon, killing nine.

The Hill-HarrisX survey also found:

• 24% of registered voters said weak gun laws was the top reason for shootings.
• 21% said hateful public rhetoric was the top reason.
• 7% said social media was to blame.
• 4% cited video games as the problem.

Many lawmakers have called for stricter gun laws in the wake of the shootings, and President Donald Trump is actively pursuing an expansion of background checks for gun buyers.

The survey was conducted online among 1,000 registered voters from Aug. 8-9 with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

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