Relatively few Americans view the mass shooting in Aurora, Colo., last month as a sign of broader social problems.
Two-thirds (67%) say that shootings like this one are just the isolated acts of troubled individuals, according to a survey conducted July 26-29. Only about a quarter (24%) say shootings like this reflect broader problems in American society.
This is similar to the public reaction after the Tucson shooting in early 2011, which 58% thought of as the isolated act of a troubled individual and 31% connected to broader social problems. Americans were more likely to see broader problems behind the Virginia Tech shooting five years ago – at that time, 46% thought the event reflected broader societal problems. Read More
Russell Heimlich is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.
