More than half of all US households own a gun and 60% of the public feels firearms protect citizens against crime. Nevertheless, such pervasive gun ownership also results in many accidental deaths. While supporting gun ownership, the public also supports background checks to prevent those with criminal records or mental health histories from obtaining firearms. However, federal legislation mandating such background checks failed in the Senate. Activists are now concentrating on passing gun control measures on a local level. Francesca Emanuele reports from Washington.