Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

4 hours ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

5 hours ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

9 hours ago

Elon Musk Says Senate Bill Would Destroy Jobs and Harm US

9 hours ago

Israel Strikes Pound Gaza, Killing 60, Ahead of US Talks on Ceasefire

10 hours ago

Trump’s Administration Finds Harvard Violated Students’ Civil Rights, WSJ Reports

10 hours ago

How Did the Supreme Court Rule? Here’s a Look at the Big Cases

2 days ago
More Americans Fearful of Gun Violence in Schools: NPR/PBS Poll
Facebook-Picture-Phelps-Brian
By Brian Phelps
Published 2 years ago on
May 24, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

An NPR/PBS poll released Wednesday on U.S. gun violence shows that an increasing number of Americans say their local schools are not safe from gun violence.

The poll reveals that 40% of Americans say that the schools in their communities are not safe from such violence. This is up from 30% in 2019 and is the highest percentage in the last decade.

23 Incidents of Gun Violence in US Schools This Year

The latest gun violence recorded in the U.S. was on May 22 when a student was shot and injured outside KIPP DC College Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. This event brought the total of school shootings with injuries or deaths in 2023 to 23.

In those incidents, 12 people have been killed (eight students and four school employees or other adults) and 22 people have been injured.

Last year marked a five-year high for school shootings with 51.

If the current rate of school shootings continues, the U.S. could set records for school shootings resulting in deaths and injuries. The current rate is roughly one school shooting every six days.

Americans Want Stricter Gun Laws, but Also More CCWs

According to the poll, many Americans indicate that the U.S. needs stricter gun laws. When they initially hear about a mass shooting, roughly 62% of Americans say the country needs tighter controls on firearms.

However, 35% of poll respondents said that more Americans should have conceal-and-carry licenses — up from the 19% in 2019.

Taking a look at U.S. gun ownership, University of Chicago research reveals that 46% of U.S. adults have a firearm in their household.

Twenty-two million Americans had a CCW as of 2021. California residents held less than 2% of those permits.

60% say Reducing Gun Violence More Important Than Gun Rights

The poll shared that 6 of 10 Americans, including 4 in 10 among those owning firearms, believe controlling gun violence is more important than protecting gun rights. This is a major change from 2013 when Americans were split nearly 50/50.

While 88% of Democrats and 55% of independents value controlling gun violence more than protecting the Second Amendment, 67% of Republicans say it’s more important to protect gun rights.

27% Support Ban on Semi-Auto Assault-Style Weapons

The poll indicated that more than 1 in 4 Americans say that banning semi-automatic assault-style weapon sales would have the biggest impact on reducing gun violence. Seventeen percent stated that mental health screenings for all gun purchases would be most effective.

Other suggestions for reducing gun violence included background checks for gun purchasers (13%) and allowing teachers to possess a firearm in the classroom (10%).

But 20% indicated that none of these options would make a difference.

41% Affected by Gun Violence

Among poll respondents, 41% said they had experienced or knew someone who had experienced gun violence.

The groups most affected by gun violence were non-White citizens (47%), gun owners (49%), and parents with children under 18 (52%).

People in states with less restrictive gun laws also were more likely to have experienced or knew someone who had experienced gun violence (45%).

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

DON'T MISS

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

DON'T MISS

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

DON'T MISS

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

DON'T MISS

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

DON'T MISS

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

DON'T MISS

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

DON'T MISS

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

DON'T MISS

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

UP NEXT

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

UP NEXT

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

UP NEXT

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

UP NEXT

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

UP NEXT

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

UP NEXT

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

UP NEXT

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

UP NEXT

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

2 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

3 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

3 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

3 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

3 hours ago

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

3 hours ago

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

3 hours ago

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

3 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

4 hours ago

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

4 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

The Clovis Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating an at-risk missing adult last seen on Thursday. Pathmani Goonawarde...

1 hour ago

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
1 hour ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

fresno
1 hour ago

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

2 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

Bryan Koberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, listens during a hearing to overturn his grand jury indictment in Moscow, Idaho, U.S., October 26, 2023. (Reuters File)
3 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

The Blanca Fire, burning 12 acres northwest of Lake Madera Country Estates in Madera County, remains active with 0% containment and no reported injuries or structural damage as the cause is under investigation as of Monday, June 30, 2025. (CalFire)
3 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

Fresno County CHP arrested two on Interstate 5 after finding about one kilogram of suspected cocaine, a loaded ghost gun, and counterfeit money during a vehicle search on Sunday, June 29, 2025. (CHP)
3 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

Gov. Newsom warns Californians to celebrate the Fourth of July safely, emphasizing zero tolerance for illegal fireworks which have surged to over 600,000 pounds seized this year. (Shutterstock)
3 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend