Support for assault weapons ban hits 20-year low

By Kelly Cohen, Kelly Cohen

Published December 20, 2015

Support for a ban an assault-style weapons dipped to its lowest point in more than 20 years.

Just 45 percent support a ban, compared to 53 percent who are opposed to such a ban, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post survey released Wednesday.

The numbers come as fears of lone wolf terror attacks increase, following the deadly terror attack in San Bernardino, Calif., earlier this month.

Furthermore, faith in the government to prevent such attacks continues to drop.

Just one in five people, 22 percent, trust that the government can prevent lone wolf terrorist attacks, while 77 percent are skeptical. More people believe that the government can stop large scale attacks (43 percent), though 56 percent don't trust the government to stop them either.