National Rifle Association viewed favorably by most Americans: poll

Nearly six in 10 Americans have a favorable opinion of the National Rifle Association, according to Gallup polling taken in the wake of the recent shooting spree at Umpqua Community College in Oregon.

Fifty-eight percent of Americans have a favorable view of the gun-rights group, compared to 35 percent with an unfavorable opinion.

That’s slightly better than a 54 percent favorable rating for the group in December 2012, soon after the school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.

The highest favorable percentage for the NRA in Gallup’s 26-year trend was 60 percent, which was recorded in 2005, though the numbers released Thursday included the highest recording of “very favorable” opinions, at 26 percent.

“Gallup’s survey shows that, even after shootings nationwide, Americans overall still have a favorable opinion of the NRA, as they typically have, suggesting that the public may not be specifically blaming the organization for the crimes of those who commit mass shootings,” wrote Gallup’s Art Swift.

Seventy-seven percent of conservatives and 56 percent of moderates have a favorable view of the group, compared to 30 percent of liberals.

Among gun owners, 78 percent have a favorable opinion, compared to 20 percent who have an unfavorable view. Among non-gun owners, 49 percent have a favorable view and 42 percent have an unfavorable one.