Quote Originally Posted by Gallup
With regard to semiautomatic guns known as assault rifles, 53 percent oppose laws that would make it illegal to manufacture, sell or possess them; only 43 percent agree with that sort of ban. This year marks the first time that more people were against a ban than for it.

A plurality of respondents — 44 percent — want firearms regulations to be kept as they are now, while 11 percent favor less strict gun laws; 43 percent suggest stricter gun laws are necessary.
It seems odd to me that only 43% want to ban assault rifles and 43% want stricter gun laws. Aren't assault rifles already banned in some places in the US? I would have thought more people would support banning assault rifles than would want stricter laws, as some may be happy with the status quo which is sometimes against assault rifles.

I wonder if the wording of the question on assault rifles confused some people - speaking of banning the manufacturing of the weapons? Interpreted literally, everyone should be against banning the manufacturing of assault rifles, at least for their own military. I guess many people in the US would not interpret the question so literally, but we do know that how you word a question can have large impacts on opinion poll data.