Why Republicans aren't likely to budge on gun control

The political script following the recent mass shootings in Boulder, Colorado, and Atlanta feels all too familiar. Democrats, led by President Joe Biden, want Congress to pass gun control legislation, most notably universal background checks, while Republicans are balking.

The motions are so familiar that I wrote an article three years ago, explaining why Republicans were unlikely to change their minds and why there was little backlash to them opposing a measure that some polls indicate is supported by more than 80% of Americans. While the party of the president is different now, a look at the polling and election results shows us why it's still unlikely that Democrats will be able to convince enough Senate Republicans to break through a filibuster for universal background checks.