A third of Americans avoid going to certain places because they fear mass shootings, survey finds
(Meredith) — A third of adults in the United States fear mass shootings so much that they avoid going to certain places, according to a new survey.
The survey, conducted by the American Psychological Association and the Harris Poll, interviewed 2,017 U.S. adults in August.
The survey found:
- 79 percent are stressed about the prospect of a mass shooting
- 32 percent said they can’t go anywhere without fearing they will be a victim of a mass shooting
- 33 percent avoid going to certain places or events
Only one in five adults (21 percent) said they do not experience stress about the prospect of a mass shooting.
When asked which public places they fear a mass shooting could happen at:
- 53 percent said a public event
- 50 percent said a mall
- 42 percent said a school or university
- 38 percent said a movie theater
The study also found that black and Hispanic people fear the possibility of mass shootings more than white people. The survey was conducted just a few days after the El Paso mass shooting on Aug. 3 that killed 22 people and injured 24 others. The suspect in that shooting told authorities he specifically targeted Hispanics.
Women are stressed more often than men about the possibility of a mass shooting (85 percent to 71 percent), according to the survey. Further, parents with children under 18 are twice as likely to fear mass shootings than those without children under 18. Also, 62 percent of parents said they live in fear that their children will be victims of a mass shooting.
In a separate November 2019 study, the American Psychological Association found that more Americans are stressed about the possibility of a mass shooting than about health care (71 percent to 69 percent). That study also found that stress about acts of terrorism, climate change and sexual harassment are on the rise.
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