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Gun violence has recently become the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. friend, Gun violence has recently become the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. However, little research has been conducted to understand and respond to how young people view guns. Together with Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and the Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL), the SPLC has released a groundbreaking study on U.S. Youth Attitudes on Guns. The nationally representative survey of over 4,100 respondents aged 14 to 30 paints a sobering portrait of the prevalence of guns and gun violence in young peoples’ lives. Through a mixed-methods approach, this research unearthed pervasive intersections between gun culture, access and usage with ideologies like male supremacy and racial resentment. “Young people are scared,” explains Pasha Dashtgard, Ph.D, Director of Research at PERIL. “That fear is often being channeled into very old narratives about race, sex, and class, and who is dangerous and who should be protected.” The majority of youth see gun violence as a major threat in the United States. Four out of five survey respondents agree that the current level of gun violence in our country is a problem and nearly 60 percent believe gun safety laws should be stricter. These findings, Dashtgard explains, evidence a need to adjust the national conversation about guns. “Rather than the intractable debate about guns, we should start talking instead about community safety — what makes a community safe and what makes people feel safe in their community.” You can read more about our findings and resources to support and maintain safe communities here. Thank you for supporting our mission to build safe, inclusive communities. Sincerely, Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center P.S. You can watch PBS NewsHour’s exclusive coverage of the report here.
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