A poll conducted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal has revealed that public opinion in America is increasingly starting to accept that we now have to live with the threat of gun violence and terrorist attacks virtually on a daily basis. Not only are Americans viewing this as the new reality, they are also making corresponding changes to their lifestyles in order to adapt to this new reality.
The full results of the poll were made public on the anniversary of the killings that took place at Sandy Hook School in Newton, Conn., according to the Wall Street Journal. Perhaps the most striking finding of the poll is that nearly 71 percent of Americans believe that gun violence has now become a normal part of the national culture.
Another significant finding is that nearly 32 percent of the people are worried that they or their relatives may become victims of gun violence. Additionally, 29 percent of the people are worried that they - or their relatives - may become victims of terrorist attacks. What is notable is that this last number is more than the number recorded in 2001 after the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City, according to The Hill.
NBC News and the Wall Street Journal organized the poll, with nearly 1,000 people covered by the sample chosen for it. The poll also has a qualifying statement to the effect that there is a possibility of a 3.1 percent error in the results, according to NBC News.
The poll does suggest that public opinion on these issues is now moving significantly in a new and unexplored direction. Thus Americans are now starting to recognize the paradigm shift in perceptions around gun violence and terrorism and are adapting their lifestyles to today's "new normal." It won't be a surprise to see discussions on these topics becoming more and more frequent than we may be used to.
