SCIENCE · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Young Voters Fear Mass Shootings but Are Divided on Gun Control
WHY IT MATTERS
The views of young adults on gun control could shape the outcomes of upcoming elections and influence federal and state gun policies, potentially leading to changes in gun laws and regulations.
What happened
About 60% of eligible young Americans plan to vote in the 2026 midterms, with gun control being a significant issue for them. Despite a shared fear of mass shootings, young adults are divided on gun control, with some supporting stricter laws and others opposing them.
A recent study found that young adults who worry more about mass shootings tend to be more supportive of gun control, but this pattern does not hold for young men, Republicans, or those who are politically conservative.
These divisions may deepen with each new mass shooting.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Young voters fear mass shootings but are divided on gun control
The Conversation US · Jillian Turanovic, Professor of Sociology, Co-Director of the CU Center on Crime and Justice, University of Colorado Boulder · CC BY-ND; link/attribution intake only—no edited republication
CORRECTIONS & UPDATES
- Revision 1 · Initial ingestion · Oct 15, 2026, 1:31 PM
- Revision 2 · Source update detected · Oct 15, 2026, 1:31 PM