Mass shootings are a deeply troubling and serious issue. Mass shootings refer to incidents in which multiple individuals are targeted and injured or killed by gunfire in a relatively short period of time. These events can cause significant loss of life, physical and emotional trauma, and have a profound impact on communities and society as a whole.
Here is some available data on mass shootings in the United States from 1982 to 2021:
- Mother Jones Database: The Mother Jones database is a widely referenced source for mass shooting data. According to their analysis, they identified 121 mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and 2021. They define a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people were killed by gunfire (excluding the shooter).
- Gun Violence Archive (GVA): The Gun Violence Archive is another prominent resource for tracking gun violence incidents, including mass shootings. According to GVA, there were 2,524 mass shootings in the United States between 2014 and September 2021. GVA defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more individuals (including the shooter) were shot or killed in a single location.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The FBI also provides data on active shooter incidents, which includes but is not limited to mass shootings. Their definition of an active shooter incident is “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.” The FBI’s data covers the period from 2000 to 2019, during which they identified 277 incidents.
Please note that there might be variations in the data provided by different sources due to differences in definitions, methodologies, and data collection practices. It’s always a good idea to refer to reputable sources for the most up-to-date and accurate information on this topic. The reasoning for the different data sets which you’ll encounter during your own research is that a mass shooting is not widely agreed upon. Many definitions are in place which describe such an event in a multitude of ways depending on the amount of people involved.
Why are Mass Shootings Happening?
It’s important to approach the topic with sensitivity and an understanding that there is no single cause or solution to address the complex factors contributing to mass shootings. However, there are several common themes and factors that are often associated with these incidents, though they may vary on a case-by-case basis. Some of these factors include:
- Individual factors: These may include mental health issues, history of violence or aggression, personal grievances, extremist beliefs, or a desire for notoriety.
- Access to firearms: The availability and ease of access to firearms can play a significant role in the severity and frequency of mass shootings. Discussions around gun control, background checks, and responsible gun ownership are often part of the conversation.
- Social dynamics: Factors such as social isolation, alienation, bullying, or feelings of marginalization can contribute to an individual’s decision to commit a mass shooting. Online radicalization and exposure to extremist ideologies through the internet or social media platforms have also been identified as contributing factors.
- Copycat phenomenon: The media coverage of mass shootings can inadvertently inspire or motivate individuals with similar grievances or intentions to carry out their own attacks. This is often referred to as the “copycat phenomenon.”
Addressing mass shootings requires a complex approach, involving various stakeholders such as law enforcement agencies, mental health professionals, policymakers, and community organizations. Strategies may include improving mental health support, implementing stronger gun control measures, enhancing school and community safety measures, promoting social inclusivity, and fostering early intervention and threat assessment programs.
It’s essential to approach this topic with empathy and to prioritize the well-being of affected individuals and communities. If you have any specific questions or concerns related to mass shootings, I’m here to provide information and support to the best of my abilities. The other important key to understanding why they are happening is analyzing the facts and conspiracies surrounding the topic as there is no ultimate answer to the question. Today we’ll get into media organizations including social media and mainstream media, gun laws, the increased phenomenon, and the government.
Are They More Common?
The short answer for this is a redounding yes as they’ve become more common throughout the years. Many people aim their reasoning for this through a multitude of reasons speaking mainly about guns in the United States, increased mental illnesses, and media platforms increasing their phenomenon. The true answer is that nobody really knows why people are deciding to commit such a disgusting and heinous act these days. Some events have involved workplaces and schools like the San Bernardino environmental health incident, Fed Ex incident, and Parkland School incident.
Underneath is three different bar graphs showing the mass shooting events by year regarding deaths, injuries, and total incidents throughout the years since 1982:
Please note that in the injured graph there is a huge differentiation due to the Las Vegas Strip shooting. Hundreds of people were injured in that event causing the bar graph to be skewed higher than the rest of the events. In total more people are injured in the mass shooting events rather than being killed. Overall it appears the question has been answered through statistics as the incidence rate of mass shootings have increased mainly after 2012. Underneath we will get into some of the notable incidents which received heavy coverage, but keep in mind every death and injury matters.
Statistically you can also see a sharp decrease in mass shootings in 2020 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic which swept the world. As people were mandated to stay indoors less could go on in the real world which in terms of mass shootings was a benefit. However, it didn’t stop two events from happening in 2020 with 9 people being murdered and 0 people being injured. Remember data doesn’t do the real world justice and as nice as the graphs above are they cannot recount the total trauma, pain, and suffering caused by all these events.
Notable Events
As we can see from above the total mass shootings from the earlier years were ranging about 1 to 5 incidents prior to 2010. However, the events became much more deadly after the Columbine event in 1999 and the Virginia Tech mass shooting in 2007. These were major in theory as we can see a stark increase in occurrences after these two gained heavy mainstream media coverage throughout the events.
The Aurora theater shooting occurred on July 20, 2012. It took place at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during a midnight screening of the film “The Dark Knight Rises.” The shooter opened fire, killing 12 people and injuring 70 others. This terrified movie goers as many questioned whether they should enter a movie screenings after what happened in Colorado. The fear induced by these shooting events can resonate throughout the United States.
The Sandy Hook shooting, also known as the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, took place on December 14, 2012. The incident occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The shooter, Adam Lanza, killed 20 children between the ages of 6 and 7, as well as six adult staff members. The Sandy Hook shooting had a profound impact on the nation and ignited discussions about gun control and school safety.
The Parkland shooting, also known as the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, occurred on February 14, 2018, in Parkland, Florida. The shooter opened fire inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, resulting in the tragic deaths of 17 students and staff members. This incident sparked widespread discussions about gun control and school safety measures.
The Las Vegas Strip shooting, also known as the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting, took place on October 1, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The shooter fired from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino onto a crowd attending the outdoor music festival. This tragic event resulted in many deaths, including the shooter, and left hundreds injured. It is considered one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history.
Lastly, the Uvalde shooting at Robb Elementary involved an 18 year old who entered the elementary school killing 19 children and teachers. The shooter also injured another 17 individuals who ended up surviving the incident. This one took place on May 24, 2022 which wasn’t even a year ago today. As time goes on hopefully the old wounds can heal, but the reality of the situation is that parents will no longer be able to see, hear, and watch their children grow to be adults. A hole which cannot be quenched with any liquid or money. This one received heavy press as the police/sheriffs in the area did not enter the school grounds after arriving for an hour. They also detained parents who attempted to enter the school to save their children. However, some got passed the officers are were able to save their children and the children’s friends before the shooter can get to them.
These incidents had a significant impact on society, prompting discussions about gun control, mental health, and the need for improved safety measures at schools and public events.
Mental Illness and Mass Shootings
The relationship between mental illness and mass shootings is a complex and controversial topic. While it’s true that some mass shooters have had a history of mental illness, it’s important to note that most people with mental illness are not violent and that the majority of gun violence in the United States is not related to mental illness.
Research has shown that the vast majority of people with mental illness are not violent. In fact, people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than to perpetrate it. Additionally, many mass shooters who have been identified as having mental illness did not receive adequate treatment or intervention before the shooting occurred.
While it’s clear that mental illness is not the sole cause of mass shootings, some experts suggest that addressing mental health care and improving access to treatment may be part of a comprehensive approach to preventing gun violence. This could include expanding mental health services and improving the screening and treatment of individuals who may be at risk of violence.
It’s important to approach the issue of mental illness and mass shootings with nuance and to avoid stigmatizing people with mental illness as inherently violent or dangerous. Instead, addressing the root causes of gun violence in the United States may require a multifaceted approach that addresses issues such as access to firearms, systemic inequalities, and the role of mental health care in preventing violence.
Gun Ownership and Gun Laws
According to the Pew Research it appears that around 40% of people stated they live in a household which has a gun with 30% of Americans stating they specifically own one. We can see a trend with around 44% of Republicans who own guns with only 20% of Democrats owning one. It also appears area matters heavily as 41% of rural residents own a gun, 29% of suburb residents own a gun, and only 20% of city dwellers owning a firearm. Lastly, we can see a stark difference in sex as 39% of men own a firearm and only 22% of females own one.
Gun ownership and gun laws have been a massive talking point with these new phenomena unfolding in front of our eyes. People are questioning whether it’s important or not for residents of the United States of America to own a firearm. With the second amendment in our bill of rights its technically legal to own a gun for protection. We can easily see this with the statistics showing that rural residents having larger ownership rates due to the threat of looters, criminals, and wildlife who can potentially harm them in the open areas.
Many are also questioning if gun laws are the problem rather than gun ownership. These are two completely different things as gun laws differ from state to state, so it’s technically illegal for people to own a firearm in different states. Open carry and concealed carry states also differ in this area as some may allow people to openly carry their firearms. The section of law people tend to undermine is the fact that obtaining firearms may be somewhat easy. Many call for stricter background checks and guns laws to avoid the deadly trigger.
Gun ownership has increased in the United States over the decades. While there are variations in surveys and estimates, some studies suggest that the number of guns in the United States has been steadily increasing since the mid-20th century. According to a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the number of firearms in the United States increased from approximately 192 million in 1994 to 357 million in 2013.
It’s worth noting that there are debates about the accuracy of gun ownership estimates, as there is no federal gun registry or mandatory gun ownership reporting in the United States. However, there is evidence to suggest that gun ownership has increased over time, which is one of the factors that may contribute to the prevalence of gun violence in the United States.
Mainstream Media, Social Media, and Coverage
Many have began to question the coverage of these mass shooting events as the more coverage they get it causes additional copycats to form. Whether or not the news or social media websites should cover such a topic is a big concern. Not allowing victims to speak after mass shootings also causes a problem where they can go unheard and feel additionally victimized by society. The second look on this topic would include the fact that maybe that could be a benefit as it would prevent future mass shooters from existing.
An important thing to consider is that there have been studies done regarding the DARE program which aimed to reduce drug use and suicide billboards to prevent suicides. It appears in both these instances that increased view of drugs and suicide may actually be a bad thing. As people become more aware of the different drugs they can use it may cause them to be more curious rather than afraid. Subsequently, if people see more advertisements or coverage regarding suicide it may cause them to consider it rather than avoid the sad death.
Another important factor could be gun ownership, but many forget that firearms have been a massive cultural aspect of the United States of America. People love their guns and you’ll immediately know why once you visit your first range. Feeling the power of a gun gives you the ability to protect yourself when times get rough. Many people advocating for gun reform or ultimately banning firearms may simply not be exposed to the dangers other people are exposed to. Giving people something to fear without the knowledge of the protection it can allow is a huge flaw when considering banning firearms for everybody and repealing the second amendment. Media coverage and social media coverage never give firearms justice as they portray the fear aspect without informing watchers the aspect of protection.
Gun Violence and Mass Shootings
Although many people see coverage throughout the media platforms or mainstream media about mass shootings its extremely important to state that mass shootings are small amount of gun violence. They account for roughly 1% of the total gun deaths which is used to harm people. The majority of gun violence in 2021 included suicides (54%) and murders (43%). That means that the rest of the percentage equal to 3% are separated into mass shootings, accidental, involved law enforcement, and undetermined circumstances.
Its very crucial to note that even though the small minority are mass shootings they still play a major role in American’s lives. As we continue seeing the increased trends throughout the years it can cause further alarm and worry people throughout our nation. Knowing is half the battle and the last percentage we’ll give you is the fact that gun violence has increased from 2019 to 2021 with a total of 23% increase. Although it would’ve been great to know the continuous change the Coronavirus Pandemic caused an issue in reporting in 2020 as most people were indoors.
The reason it’s important to state that mass shootings are a minority in gun violence is because of the complete push it has on social media and mainstream media platforms. Although it’s a small minority of the total gun violence, it’s being pushed ideally as a major contributor to deaths. In 2021 there were around 48,800 deaths due to gun-related injuries. With tens of people who died by mass shootings, but suicides reached a total of 26,000 deaths. Homicides were also more outstanding than mass shootings as they almost reached 21,000 gun related deaths.
Apart from gun violence and deaths from firearms we can also highlight a few other statistics. Around 13,600 people in the United States die from starvation, 42,900 people in the United States die to car accidents, 300,000 people in the United States die to obesity, 480,000 people in the United States die to tabacco/Cigarettes, and 609,000 people in the United States die to cancer. As we can see from these numbers mass shootings tend to be dwarfed by the numerous other causes of death in America.
Gun Control Conspiracy
Alex Jones a conspiracy theorist was recently fined a billion dollars in his court case regarding the Sandy Hook mass shooting. Apart from the main man there are other people in the U.S. who claim gun control isn’t being pushed to keep people safe, but to rid Americans of their ability to fend for themselves. These conspiracy theorists claim that these mass shootings are being propagated by government bodies to instill fear in the American people, so they can ask for their gun rights to be stripped from the Bill of Rights.
Regardless of this conspiracy theory it’s heavily emphasized that Americans do not like the idea of being played in a governmental game. As people’s lives have been changed forever they do not want a man telling them that their dead children are fake. The billion dollar lawsuit was caused due to Alex Jones wildly claiming on numerous areas that some of the mass shootings are being misrepresented and faked to help instill the fear. This caused a wide variety of affects as the radio and show host has millions of followers.
Inadvertently this statement caused many of the Sandy Hook victim’s parents to be harassed by individuals who are claiming their dead children are not real. These people followed the parents and sometimes stalked them in certain scenarios trying to debunk the fact that Sandy Hook could’ve been faked by the government. The lawsuit alleged that this caused additional grief, sadness, and harassment to the parents who already lost their children to the violent mass shooting at the elementary school.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, it appears that these mass shootings are here to stay and have been increasing throughout the recent years. As Americans grapple with the idea that their home, shops, malls, and schools could become victim to some egregious idiot with a gun. It may be multiple factors including an issue of gun laws, gun violence, mental illness, influences of mainstream media, and social media. The main takeaway from this article is that it’s important to talk about the issue rather than to fear or hide from it.
Maybe gun laws aren’t the best strategy to avoid the resonating issues regarding mass shootings. Isolation causes some of these incidences, and potentially following up on certain tips can remove the shooters before they commit their crimes. Additional background checks can potentially help reduce the issue with the combining factor of less reporting from social media and mainstream media. The real issue is that people’s lives are being affected by these tragedies and it will take all of America to figure out the issue at hand. Prevention is key to reducing overall harm and if people get to the point of wanting to harm others we may have a bigger problem at our hands. However, hope and love are the keys to unlocking the potential of stopping people from committing these heinous crimes.