Poll: Majority Now Backs Major Gun Restrictions

A new poll by CNN and ORC International suggests that most Americans favor major restrictions or a total ban on guns. Barely. In the poll, 52% support such action, up from just under the 50% mark over recent years. Other findings:

• 46% say government and society can act to prevent future gun violence, up 13 points from January 2011, after the Gabby Giffords shooting. President Obama promises to do just that.
• 53% say attacks will still happen no matter what action is taken, but that's down from 66% in January 2011.
• 43% say the Newtown shootings make them more likely to support gun restrictions, up 15 points from after the Giffords shooting.
• About 60% favor a ban on semi-automatic assault rifles.

"All of those numbers are much higher than they were in a CNN poll conducted in January 2011, indicating that the tragedy in Connecticut may be affecting more Americans more intensely than other recent attacks," says CNN's polling director.