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A source of significant stress

Gun deaths of children have surged 62% in the US since the shooting in Connecticut at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a trend that shows no sign of reversing, partly thanks to political polarization on gun control. 

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As mass shootings become more common, Americans are typically searching online using terms like “gun control” and “Kevlar backpack” following an event. After mass shootings, they also tend to stock up to protect themselves from other armed people and from stricter gun control laws. Shares of firearms and ammunition companies typically soar in anticipation of tighter regulation, although most mass shootings haven’t resulted in policy changes.

Guns are deeply ingrained in American society, with 30% of adults owning at least one, according to the Pew Research Center. In a survey of young people aged 15 to 21 for the American Psychological Association, 75% said that mass shootings were a significant source of stress for them.

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