WASHINGTON: More than six in 10 Americans blame US President Donald Trump and Congress for not doing enough to prevent mass shootings, says a Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Tuesday.

The survey — conducted after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead — also finds that significantly more Americans believe mass shootings in the United States are due more to mental health issues than inadequate gun laws.

Sixty-two per cent of respondents blame President Trump for not doing enough to prevent mass shootings and 77 per cent say Congress is doing an inadequate job.

But 57 per cent also say that mass shootings in the United States reflect the country’s health system’s failure in identifying and treating people with mental health problems, while 28 percent blame “inadequate gun laws.”

Nine per cent blame both equally. Across party lines, 77 per cent say the Parkland shooting could have been prevented by more effective health screening treatment.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.