Americans Think Stricter Gun Laws Wouldn't Have Prevented Navy Yard Shooting

According to a new poll released Thursday, more than half of American adults believe stricter gun laws might have prevented the mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard.

Only 33 percent of Americans say they believe it's at least somewhat likely that stricter gun control laws would have prevented the mass shooting in Washington, D.C. -- that number includes 15 percent who say it is very likely stricter gun laws would have prevented the tragedy.

But 59 percent say it is unlikely tougher gun laws would have prevented the shooting, including 26 percent who said it's not at all likely.

Support for gun control is also down. Forty-four percent believe the U.S. needs stricter gun control laws, which is the lowest number since July 2012,just after the mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo. Fifty percent believe stricter gun control laws are not needed, which is the highest level of opposition in over a year.

Americans aren't convinced that the recent shooting will spark any legislative action. Fifty-eight percent say it's not likely that Congress and the president will create tougher gun control laws, while 37 percent say it's at least somewhat likely that legislation will be created.

The survey of 1,000 adults was conducted Sept. 17-18. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95 percent level of confidence.