Fearful of mass shootings, young voters split on gun control despite nearly 80% being stressed

Young voters and turnout

About 60% of eligible voters ages 18 to 29 say they plan to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. If that happens, turnout among voters under 30 would set a midterm record.

Their participation could influence policy decisions, including an Arkansas proposal to strengthen constitutional protection for gun rights. The measure includes protections for owning ammunition and gun parts.

Fear does not settle views

Researchers have described young adults as the “massacre generation,” a label reflecting that they grew up amid school lockdown drills, heightened security and frequent coverage of mass violence. Some have experienced more than one shooting before age 25.

In a survey, participants rated their fear of themselves or a loved one becoming a mass-shooting victim on a scale from 1 to 3. More than 60% reported moderate or high fear, including about 17% in the high-fear range.

Views on guns vary

Gun-control advocates call for tighter restrictions, while gun-rights advocates argue that more armed citizens can stop attackers. The article does not provide the remainder of the survey results after its account of young adults’ views on gun ownership and safety.

Evidence and political debate

Youth-led groups, including March for Our Lives, have made young people prominent in the gun-policy debate. The organization was founded by survivors of the Parkland shooting and focuses on ending gun violence.