As news of the tragic mass shooting Friday at a Connecticut grade school unfolds, experts, leaders, and the media will be taking a hard look at issues of school safety and gun control.
Gallup tracks Americans' views on these topics and here is where the public stood in surveys conducted in 2012:
- Fifty percent were satisfied with the nation's laws or policies on guns and 42% were dissatisfied in a Jan. 5-8, 2012, poll.
- The same survey found 25% were dissatisfied with gun laws and wanted the laws to be made more strict.
- Twenty-five percent of parents with children in grades K-12 said they fear for their child's physical safety while at school.
- Twelve percent of parents with children in grades K-12 said their child expressed worry or concern about feeling unsafe at their school.
For historical trends on these questions and for additional information, visit the Gallup.com Trends A-ZGuns topic page and Education topic page.
It is likely that today's devastating shooting and murder of 26 people, including 20 children, will cause many Americans to reassess their views toward guns and issues of school safety in particular.
Gallup will be monitoring Americans' views in the days ahead and report findings on Gallup.com.