Seems to be similar to any discussion that focuses on nuclear energy as a vast potential improvement. People are just too terrified of nuclear power. Which seems silly, and certainly isn't founded on any scientific basis, but because the world at large was introduced to nuclear weapons first and nuclear power later the initial exposure is what sticks out in people's minds.

It gives people an ominous feeling. An ominous feeling doubtlessly aided financially by well entrenched corporations profiting off of nuclear power's continually crippled adoption.

I think people are scared because politicians feed the fear. They roll out the worst-case scenarios, which justifies their inaction and makes it look like they're taking a stand, when in fact they're being cheap (nuclear plants cost money, after all) and cowardly (because they might actually get criticized by people who already fear nukes). That it perpetuates the largely unjustified fears of the public (although, I must admit, not entirely so) is irrelevant to them. It gets them votes. That's all that matters.