(YouTube)

(CNSNews.com) -- A recent survey shows that a strong majority of Americans, 57%, oppose banning semi-automatic guns, specifically semi-automatic rifles that the media often label "assault rifles." A semi-automatic rifle (or pistol) is a gun that fires one bullet each time the trigger is pulled.

In the poll, Gallup asked, "Are you for or against a law which would make it illegal to manufacture, sell or possess semi-automatic guns, known as assault rifles?" Forty percent said they were "for" a ban and 57% said they were "against" a ban.

(Gallup)

"In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a ban on assault weapons in the U.S.," reported the polling firm. "When Gallup first asked Americans about such a ban in 1996, 57% were in favor and 42% opposed. By the time the 10-year ban expired in 2004, support had fallen to 50%."

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"In recent years, opinion has generally been against such a law, and an attempt to pass a new ban -- after the Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting -- was defeated in 2013," reported Gallup. "The current 40% support for an assault rifles ban is below the historical average of 47%."

In the political aisle, the survey showed that 56% of Democrats support banning semi-automatic rifles but only 25% of Republicans support such a ban.

(Gallup.)

The survey further showed that among the households that have guns, only 33% support a ban on semi-auto rifles and among those households without guns, 46% support a ban.