Triggering Fear: The Relationship Between Party Affiliation, News Sources, and Gun Control

Freedom and democratic principles are our government's core and essential for upholding a democratic society. This paper considers the relationship between political identity, media consumption, and the fear of government restrictions on firearms within the United States. This study analyzes correlations between these variables using data from the Chapman Survey of American Fears, Wave 10. Among the interesting findings are that Republicans and conservatives are more likely to fear government restrictions on firearms than Democrats, Independents, and liberals. Another finding is that one's preferred news sources can influence beliefs toward policies, including those on firearm restrictions, and shape people's perceptions of government intervention. Many factors that contribute to the fear of government restrictions on firearms, such as education, age, and media, will be explored in this paper. This paper thus identifies key patterns where political beliefs, media habits, and views on the justification of violence influence perceptions and fear of liberty being seized.