Table 2 Average level of perceived efficacy for specific policies for preventing mass school shootings, ranked by level of perceived utility.

Universal background checks

3.32

1.10

3.7 (18)

5.5 (27)

10.2 (49)

15.6 (75)

63.6 (307)

1.3 (6)

Increasing funding for mental healthcare

3.08

1.23

5.5 (27)

6.5 (33)

16.6 (83)

14.3 (71)

54.2 (270)

2.6 (13)

Increasing the scope of background checks

3.07

1.27

7.7 (37)

6.6 (32)

11.6 (56)

19.0 (92)

54.8 (265)

0.4 (2)

Requiring license to purchase firearms

2.85

1.44

12.3 (61)

6.4 (32)

13.8 (68)

14.2 (70)

49.2 (242)

3.8 (19)

Banning high-capacity magazines

2.72

1.57

17.2 (83)

8.4 (40)

7.9 (38)

14.4 (69)

48.7 (235)

2.8 (14)

Banning AR-15s & other “assault”-style weapons

2.71

1.62

20.0 (96)

5.3 (26)

9.9 (47)

9.6 (46)

52.5 (252)

2.6 (13)

Increase age requirment to 21 for firearm purchase

2.40

1.55

17.9 (88)

12.4 (61)

16.1 (80)

12.6 (62)

37.1 (184)

3.6 (18)

Adding more armed school security personnel

2.26

1.54

19.8 (97)

13.0 (64)

19.2 (94)

11.4 (56)

33.1 (162)

2.9 (14)

Adding more metal detectors in schools

2.24

1.47

15.7 (78)

19.2 (95)

18.7 (93)

14.2 (70)

29.8 (148)

2.1 (11)

Requiring secure firearm storage

2.09

1.65

27.2 (134)

11.8 (58)

13.0 (64)

11.1 (55)

31.8 (157)

4.8 (24)

Reducing the number of entrances as schools

1.82

1.52

27.1 (130)

16.8 (80)

20.6 (99)

9.4 (45)

22.2 (106)

3.9 (19)

Allowing prayer in schools

1.37

1.67

48.6 (239)

6.5 (32)

9.5 (47)

5.7 (28)

20.2 (99)

9.2 (45)

Arming teachers & other school personnel

1.24

1.52

48.0 (232)

15.0 (73)

11.1 (54)

6.2 (30)

15.8 (77)

3.8 (18)