Despite a huge anti-gun rally planned to storm Washington this weekend, a new school shooting survey finds that most Americans want government leaders to increase security and help for the mentally ill than gun bans.

The survey, done by Gallup, found that by a margin of 56 percent to 41 percent, “Americans are more likely to say the government should change laws related to ‘school security and mental health system’ rather than the ‘laws on the sales of guns and ammunition’ as the best way to prevent future school shootings.”





The survey showed a well-defined split in public attitude on the day when another school shooting, this one in southern Maryland, was playing out on cable TV.

It also revealed a shift since the Sandy Hook shootings, with the trend toward gun control growing.

Other key points from Gallup:



Republicans and Democrats have overwhelmingly different responses to this choice. Eighty percent of Republicans favor the safety and mental health approach, while 61% of Democrats favor focusing on guns.

Gallup also measured Americans' views on seven specific proposals for ways to prevent school shootings. Of the four proposals Americans favor most, three deal with school safety protocols and mental health, while one -- background checks -- deals with gun regulations. Smaller majorities of Americans favored raising the age at which guns can be purchased and banning sales of semi-automatic weapons.