Paul Bedard: Most Still Blame the Brain, Not the Gun, for Shootings

Most Still Blame the Brain, Not the Gun, for Shootings

Despite President Joe Biden’s effort to point fingers at guns for the country’s mass shootings, the majority of the population still believes that mental health concerns are the main reason.

According to a Rasmussen Reports survey conducted between the last two mass shootings, respondents were given six options to choose from, with 42% selecting “mental health” while only 29% opted for “access to firearms.”

Many recent shooting incidents have been executed by individuals with underlying mental health problems.

Both Washington and state governments have struggled with identifying and preventing potential shooters with mental health ailments, but they have yet to find a suitable solution. Some cities have implemented stricter gun control laws, but that hasn’t deterred criminals or individuals with mental health problems from accessing firearms.

The poll also showed that blame is split along political lines. While more Democrats (43%) believe that access to guns is the main cause of mass shootings, Republicans (54%) are more likely to attribute it to mental health issues.