Effects Of Mass Shootings

From 2000 to 2013 there was an average of approximately 15,629 murders in the country (Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI], 2000-13). In the same time period approximately 35 deaths per year, or less than a quarter of one percent, were the results of an active shooter event. In 160 events 1,043 individuals were killed (47%) and wounded (53%). The federal government defines a mass homicide as the killing of three or more individuals. Only 64 of these events would have been classified as a mass

I've become desensitized and have little reaction to broadcasts about mass shootings, as I have become desensitized about other types of intentional harm and injury to another human being... because of the type of service I provide. I may not have strong emotional reactions anymore to the shootings. Still, can't wrap my mind around how easy it is to take away someone's right to live and breath.

According to Political Fact, “there have been 273 mass shooting in 2017- one for each day of the year (Pelosi).” In the past the government has used a strict definition to define a mass murder which states that at least four victims must be killed. Many factors play different roles in committing a terror attack or mass shooting such as biological, psychological, and social influences.

A major topic being discussed in gun control today has to do with how mental illness factors into these shootings and what should be done pertaining to mental health gun restrictions.

The biggest impact mass shootings and suicides are on the victims. This can range from physical assault to emotional distress. In the cases of mass shootings, the victims can be identified as the people that were either shot or indirectly harmed through the shooting. In columbine, there were 13 total deaths consisting of 12 students and one teacher. In addition to the deaths, 24 others were wounded with a range of injuries (Library, 2017). Some victims endured a few cuts and bruises from the chaos and others became paralyzed from the gun-shot wounds and are now living life with limitations. One victim was shot three times, two in the back and one in the arm. She suffered nerve damage from the shots in the back and an excruciating painful recovery from the bullet in the arm (Library, 2017). Unfortunately, she was unable to recover nerve damage which paralyzed her from waist down. Another victim was shot twice in the head and suffered traumatic brain injury as he tried to escape out the school window (Library, 2017). These stories were only two of the 24 victims from one incident. Similar stories exist from other mass shootings that display the tragic effects in has on the victims.

Has the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill led to the increase of mass shootings experienced in the US? According to Lankford, several reports suggest that up to 60% of offenders of mass shootings in the US since 1970, exhibited symptoms including depression, delusions, and acute paranoia prior to the commission of their crimes. Further statistics have shown that since 1982, there have been at least 71 public mass shooting across the country; with 34 of these mass shooting having occurred since 2006. A recent analysis of the database by researchers at Harvard University corroborated by a recent FBI study concluded that mass shootings have been on the rise. More than half of the cases involve school or workplace shootings, 12 and 20

“The Monitor studied two online databases – Mass Shooting Tracker and the Gun Violence Archive – that employ perhaps the broadest popular definition of "mass shootings": incidents that leave four or more people dead or wounded (Mendoza & Gass).” While majority of the 372 shootings do effect less than ten people, severe cases can go far beyond that number. Some of the deadliest and most well heard of shootings in America would be the San Bernardino, CA shooting (2015), the Sandy Hook school shooting (2012), and the Orlando, FL shooting (2016) which injured or killed over one hundred people. These attacks are taking place everywhere, disability centers, schools, and your everyday social events. This puts everyone at risk of the potential for a mass shooting.

Mass shootings in the U.S and even the world are becoming more and more common every year and all but two of the shooting

When we find a reading vastly interesting and informative regarding a recent or an upcoming event, we fail to realize that many writers insert their biases when composing their work. There are certain things they don’t want to include as well as things that they want the reader to believe. It seems kind of like a jack in the box. You crank the pull bar and never pay attention to the noises or anything and then bam! You’re hit with the jack and you get a reality check. Although people don’t want to admit it there is still a stigma towards homosexuality. Many are bullied and discriminated through the USA solely based on the person they want to be happy with. If we let our old ideology cage us from following what our hearts want, we cannot say

America is currently experiencing a frightening crisis of internal terrorism. In 2015 alone, there have been nearly 13000 deaths in America due to gun violence. Mass shootings have become regular occurrences on the news channels. After every single mass shooting, politicians, celebrities and regular people all over the country express their uttermost grief and regret for the lost victims. Consistently, there is a subsequent call for more gun control. In some cases, new bills may be proposed. It has become a routine of some sort. However, these efforts have amounted to a negligible amount of progress. Even with all the outrage and mourning from the public after each mass shooting, nothing seems to change. The initial passion and vigor regarding

There is no question that mass shootings are happening more frequently. The question is are they happening to often? They have become more common, but have always been a problem in the world. Shootings have been happening since the invention of guns, but as we come closer to our era mass shootings have been happening more regularly. These shootings need to be stopped and put an end to. But how can we as a whole all come together and put an end to it? The statistics and facts that are going to be used give valid reasons to where the shootings take place, how it happens and the number of casualties and lives taken from these shootings.

As a result of the Las Vegas Massacre, people are demanding political action to be taken. Mass shootings have been almost too regularly occurring in the past ten years. In fact, just in our current year, “there have been two hundred and seventy three mass shootings in the United States” (Fox 1). This number averages to seven and a half mass shootings per week! These staggering numbers are pressing a very real issue to our leader on gun control laws. A mass shooting has no true definition but follows a strict criteria.According to the Gun Violence Archive, which receives data from shooting incidents, a "mass shooting" is any incident in which a gunman kills four or more people, selects victims randomly, and attacks in a public place (Fox 1). It is necessary for action to be taken in order to decline the occurrence of gun violence. The topic of gun control has sparked great controversy amongst Americans. Protests regarding this issue has led me to research gun control to see how heavily it corresponds with mass shootings. Are more strict gun control laws essential to low gun- related crimes in the United States?

In 2016, 17, 250 (4.5%) murders in the US compared to Houston’s 302 (12.9%) with a difference of 8.4% difference ("FBI Federal Crime Data," 2013-2016, p. 1). For the most part, three major cities pushing the national murder rate up higher than any other portion of the country is Baltimore (133 in 2015), Chicago (67 in 2015) and Houston (61 in 2015) ("US murder rate," 2016, p. 1). In comparison, these three cities are also at the top for aggravated assaults. The murder and aggravated assault rates are primarily gang and domestic issue related with gangs taking the front on the murder rate with gun violence. Guns are used more than 60% of the time used in the commission of these crimes.

Individuals who are affiliated with gangs commit crimes such as homicide consistently. Gangs target areas where people are not unified and would be less likely to contact authorities if violence broke out. Drive by shootings occur so often that Detective Dale Wallis says “they [gangs] do not care who’s going to get shot” (qtd. in Minty 1). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did a report to determine the top five United States cities to have high levels of gang homicide. Those five cities were Los Angeles, California; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Long Beach, California; Oakland, California, and Newark, New Jersey. The study

In 2010 there were 11,078 firearm related homicides in America. My belief is that only the police should be allowed to purchase and use firearms. I think that this will help to reduce the rate of murders caused by firearms in the USA and potentially lower the murder rate overall. An outright ban on firearms (with the exception of the police) would lower a number of mass shootings and stop criminals from obtaining guns through burglaries. There are other countries that already have stricter laws on the purchase and use of firearms. These countries have much lower homicide rates than America.