(Patriot.Buzz) – The nation’s safety has been put into question by a stunning new study that suggests 1 in 15 Americans has witnessed a mass shooting.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the University of Colorado Boulder study surveyed 10,000 adults about their experiences with mass shootings.
Researchers claim nearly 7% of U.S. adults have been present during a mass shooting, with over 2% sustaining injuries.
These incidents were defined as situations where four or more people were shot in a public space.
However, critics have slammed the fact that the study misses any serious examination of the root causes behind these shootings.
The study argues that younger generations, particularly Generation Z, are disproportionately affected by mass shootings.
It also notes that Black Americans and males report higher rates of witnessing such events.
According to the research, mass shootings often occur in familiar community settings like schools, bars, and shopping centers.
These places are perfect “gun-free zones” where criminals know they will face no armed resistance.
“This study confirms that mass shootings are not isolated tragedies, but rather a reality that reaches a substantial portion of the population, with profound physical and psychological consequences,” said David Pyrooz, one of the study’s authors.
The research shows that income and education levels did not affect the likelihood of being present or injured in a mass shooting.
The Gun Violence Archive, which uses a much broader definition of “mass shooting” than most Americans would recognize, recorded 4,917 mass shootings from 2015 to 2024. This number includes many gang-related incidents.
The study also emphasizes the need for interventions and support for affected groups.
The psychological impact of mass shootings cannot be ignored. Even those present but uninjured experience distress, fear, anxiety, and depression.
The research points to the emergence of a “mass shooting generation,” which reflects how endemic these attacks have become in recent years.
More than half of the mass shooting experiences occurred in the last decade, marking a troubling generational shift.
“Our findings lend credence to the idea of a ‘mass shooting generation.’ People who grew up in the aftermath of Columbine have these unique experiences that are really distinguishable from the older population,” Pyrooz added.
The University of Colorado’s study surveyed 10,000 adults, aiming to fill gaps in understanding the public health impacts of these incidents.
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