Blame

At Politico, Andy Barr reports on a CNN/Opinion Research poll out Monday (1,014 adults, Jan. 14-16 MOE +/-3).

Sixty-nine percent of those polled said the shooting that left six dead and injured 14, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), has not changed their opinion on gun control. Twenty-eight percent said the shooting has made them “more likely” to support stricter controls on the sale of firearms, while 3 percent were “less likely.”

Those surveyed were split on whether access to guns and harsh political rhetoric deserve any blame for the incident.

Fifty-two percent said lenient gun sale laws deserve either a “great deal” or a “moderate amount” of blame, while 47 percent believe gun laws should not be held responsible for the incident.

Roughly the same is true of political rhetoric, as 48 percent said its use deserves blame compared with 49 percent who said it does not.

Former Alaska GOP Gov. Sarah Palin was widely vindicated in the poll for posting a map on her PAC’s website last year showing cross-hairs on Gifford’s district, as well as the district of 19 other members. Some on the left pointed the finger at Palin following the shooting, but only 35 percent of those polled said Palin deserves any blame. Fifty-nine percent said she deserves little or no blame.