There is a
lack of consensus on how to define a mass shooting. Most terms define a minimum
of three or four victims of gun violence (not including the shooter) in a short
period of time.
Since 2009,
there have been 274 mass shootings in the United States, resulting in 1536
people shot and killed and 983 people shot and wounded.
1- The
motive for mass shootings (which occur in public situations) is a defining
feature in that they are usually committed by deeply disgruntled individuals
seeking revenge or payback for failures in school, career, romance and life in
general
2- They want
to get back at those who have hurt them.
3- They
don't value life. There is an almost inexhaustible supply of marginalized, emotionally
disturbed, rage-filled young men in this country.
4- They have
been victims of physical abuse at home.
5- They have
mental problems. Psychological distress is increasing among teens and
adolescents, and there is a shortage of mental health support for this age
group.
6- It is easy for them to get a gun. Handguns are easily obtainable in the US, and are often poorly-secured by family members.
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7- Other
kids pick on them, make fun or them, or bully them.
8- They have
witnessed physical abuse at home.
9- They
drink alcohol or use drugs.
How to prevent Mass shootings?
The United States is not the only country with mental illness, domestic violence, video games, or hate-fueled ideologies, but our gun homicide rate is 25 times higher than our peer countries. The difference is easy access to guns. In fact, even within the U.S., states with weaker gun laws and higher gun ownership rates have higher rates of mass shootings.
Lawmakers must act to require background checks
on all gun sales, support Extreme Risk laws that provide a process to
temporarily remove guns from people showing warning signs, keep guns out of the
hands of domestic abusers, and restrict assault weapons and high-capacity
magazines.
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I believe that we Americans, as a society, need to do some serious introspection. That begins by asking ourselves some serious questions, like: what must we do to reduce the likelihood that troubled adolescents with violent intentions will get hold of unsecured firearms? What resources are required to address the mental health needs of younger populations? And what must we do to counteract the allure and glamor of these unspeakably violent deeds?