Final answer:
The mass shooting at Sandy Hook led to increased support for reinstating the assault weapon ban, highlighting the relationship between gun access and mass shootings, though tangible legislative change was minimal.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, there was increased support for reinstating the assault weapon ban. The tragedy involved a young man with severe mental health problems who shot and killed 26 individuals, including 20 children.
In the aftermath of such mass shootings, public opinion often sways towards stricter gun control, highlighting the relationship between access to firearms and the occurrence of these violent events. Despite this, public attitudes about gun control tentatively pivot, and the impact on legislative changes is complex and often minimal, with no immediate reinstatement of the ban.