Young adults' fear of mass shootings splits them on gun policy ahead of midterms

Researchers surveyed roughly 1,700 U.S. adults between 18 and 29 to gauge how the prevalence of mass shootings influences their attitudes toward firearms. Around 60% of respondents intend to vote in the forthcoming midterms, a level that could break historical turnout records for this age group. More than 60% reported moderate or high anxiety about becoming victims of a mass shooting, with 17% indicating high fear.

While a majority support measures such as permitting requirements for public carry and prohibiting guns on campuses, support is not uniform: young men, Republicans and those identifying as politically conservative show a reverse trend, becoming less supportive of gun restrictions as their fear rises. The findings highlight a generational cohort—dubbed the “massacre generation”—that is both deeply affected by gun violence and politically divided on how to address it.