Poll: Plurality back state, local laws blocking federal gun control

{mosads}The shooting, which left 20 children and six adults dead, rekindled the national debate over gun control and spawned a host of measures in Congress, including proposals to expand background checks and to bar certain military-style assault weapons.

Those efforts have faltered though with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pulling a comprehensive gun control package last month after an amendment to expand background checks to all gun show and online sales failed to receive 60 votes.

But the push has invited opposition from the nation’s gun lobby and pro-gun rights lawmakers across the country. At least 28 states took up consideration of laws to exempt themselves from new federal restrictions.

Most recently, Kansas enacted a law prohibiting the federal regulation of any “Made in Kansas” guns that never cross state lines and, the state argues, are not subjected to the Interstate Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution.

The law drew swift rebuke from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder who called the Kansas law unconstitutional and threatened litigation.

Neither side has definitive support from the public, according to the Rasmussen survey.

The poll included a survey of 1,000 likely voters late last week and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.