WASHINGTON (CBSDC) — A new poll finds that a majority of Americans view the National Rifle Association favorably.

The Gallup Poll, conducted from Dec. 19-22, found that 54 percent of Americans held a favorable view of the NRA, compared to 38 percent who have an unfavorable opinion.

The poll comes after NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre was widely criticized calling for armed guards in every school following the Newtown massacre where gunman Adam Lanza killed 26 people, including 20 children, at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14.

“The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” LaPierre said last Friday.

Breaking the poll down further, 83 percent of Republican respondents viewed the NRA favorably while 58 percent of Democrats hold an unfavorable opinion.

The NRA’s favorability numbers have fluctuated over the past 20 years. In 1995, the NRA hit a low of 42 percent while in 2005 they reached a high of 60 percent favorability.