Young voters fear mass shootings but are divided on gun control

Nearly 50 million Americans aged 18 to 29 have the right to vote in the upcoming midterm elections, with around 60% planning to participate. This would break records for voter turnout among young people. Mass shootings are a recurring issue in American life, and many young people have directly experienced them. In fact, some have faced multiple mass shootings before reaching college.

This has led researchers to label today's young adults as the "massacre generation," the first to grow up entirely in the post-9/11, post-Columbine era, with frequent lockdown drills and constant media coverage of violent incidents. A study of nearly 1,700 young adults found that the fear of mass shootings has caused this generation to split politically and by gender.

While fear of mass shootings pulls the generation apart, it also pushes some to advocate for stricter gun laws and others to oppose them. Mass shootings account for only about 1% of gun deaths in the U.S., yet they significantly impact how safe millions feel. Young adults have grown accustomed to heated debates on gun control after every tragedy and have become vocal advocates through organizations like March for Our Lives.

Despite widespread support for gun control among young adults, political views on the issue are deeply divided, especially among Republicans, older adults, and conservatives.