Poll: Americans see police, mental health care more effective than assault weapons ban

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Americans believe that increasing the police presence at schools and upping federal spending on mental health screenings and services are more likely to deter mass shootings than banning the sale of assault weapons, according to a poll from Gallup released Wednesday.

More than half of those surveyed said more police and mental health services would be “very effective,” with nearly nine in 10 saying doing so would be at least “somewhat effective” in preventing gun crime.

Some 78 percent also said decreasing the depictions of violence on TV and in movies and video games would help to prevent mass shootings.