Mass shootings are one form of evil that has become an increasing part of our society since the 60s. Although these shootings have happened many times over the years, people still wonder and debate why they occur. Due to the large number of explanations people have come up with over the years, there is no one particular cause as to why these mass shootings happen. Rather, it is a group of many explanations which all contribute to the social evil of a mass shooting.
One of the causal explanations for a mass shooting is mental illness. Many of the recent mass shootings that have occurred have partially been caused by the unstableness of the person’s mind. For example, James Holmes, the mass shooter who killed twelve people in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado was said to have a schizophrenic disorder. Although the disorder does not blur the lines between right and wrong, it definitely has an impact as to why he was motivated to carry out this shooting. This mental illness problem also occurred with Columbine shooter, Eric Harris. Harris had a psychotic disorder and was even made to be a psychopath, according to the FBI report which was released five years after the shooting. Both shooters had notebooks, in which they expressed their severe hatred for the world and many humans around them. They also seemed to have an obsession with fame to some extent and were even a bit insecure about their own self-worth. These men had psychotic disorders, which shifted their thinking and made them think in abnormal ways, causing them to lose touch with reality. At the same time, mental illness may not be the cause of all mass shootings. In fact, many people will stereotype mass shooters as being mentally ill even though that may not be true. This is one fallacy which is seen today within our society after a mass shooting occurs, and can even be characterized as scapegoating. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, only 3-5% of violent acts are carried out by mentally ill people. Also, the mentally ill are more likely to be victimized and harassed rather than the other way around. In fact, even if a shooter did have a mental problem, there is a very small chance that they would go to a therapist or
Emotional wellness issues have been frequently shown another big cause of these shootings. Most school shooters were mentally sick or demonstrated side effects of psychological wellness issues. An opportunity for mental and psychiatric help could help stop these shootings. According to newyorker.com, ¨, from 2011 and 2013, more people believe that mass shootings result from a failure of the mental-health system than from easy access to guns. Eighty per cent of the population believes that mental illness is at least partially to
“Shooting massacres” in school settings, a new phenomenon within the past 50 years, are extremely rare events. Over 23 years, 1990-2012, 215 fatal school shooting incidents resulted in 363 deaths, equivalent to 0.12% of national firearm homicides during that time period …… Among these, just three shooting rampages – Columbine High School, Virginia Tech University, and Sandy Hook Elementary School – accounted for 72 (53.3%) of these 135 deaths. The frequency of random/ rampage shooting incidents in schools has remained within the narrow range of 0 to 3 episodes per year.” (Shultz, et al., 2013, p. 84)
While mass shootings will almost always make the news, and nine times out of ten involve an individual that is mentally ill getting their hands on a gun. Take a look at the movie theater incident, Sandy Hook, and the latest school shooting in Oregon, all these shooters were mentally ill and yet somehow they acquired a firearm. Should we fault the mental health system or
Next time there 's a mass shooting, don 't jump to blame the people with a mental illness and the people responsible for them. Look first at the NRA services that gave them the guns that caused the chaos and death, and the laws in the state where the shooting took place. People are so angry at the fact that criminals with an mental illness kill people and blame them. When really the gun is the reason why people die. Sure they pulled the trigger, but considering that
Mass shootings in the U.S have many different causes as to why they occur. USA Today mentions that breakups, estrangements and family related problems make up the majority of mass killings. Although, many seem to blame gun violence and mental illnesses. Mass shootings can also involve a failed security system such as mistakes in the mental health system and gun control. (USA Today, 2013.) People question whether or not people with mental illness should be allowed to obtain a gun, while others argue that guns can provide safety when used correctly.
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
When we hear the words mass shooting, most of us immediately pause and begin to think the worst. We are filled with sorrow that soon turns to anger as details of the event emerge. A portion of the population immediately begins to call for more gun regulation and the battle is staged again. This scenario plays out in the media and in the legislative halls around the country and seems to occur on a much too frequent basis. Has the frequency of mass shootings actually increased? Or has technology allowed the media to convey stories within minutes of their occurrence giving the appearance of increasing crime? Many people believe the term mass shooting and inner city are almost synonymous
Mass shootings have been a growing epidemic in the past years in the United States. According to CNN between the years 1966 and 2017 there have been 90 Mass Shootings in the United States; with the shootings more likely to occur at the workplace or at schools(1). But why is this happening? Why are unlikely citizens rising up and performing such vulgar actions? What truly has people baffled is what is causing people to commit such a horrific act of violence? We are baffled because we don’t understand what is the cause that the some of the people committing these shootings are thought to be normal, well raised, and stable-mind people. There are many theories as to why people commit these mass shootings. One is that it is that a people's thresholds for the act and they are joining in. Another is that is is testosterone and natural dominance causing those viewed as outcasts to commit the shooting. But I believe it is both of those but that there is a stronger one that explains the reason why good people are committing horrific shootings. My theory is the psychological act of splitting.
Mass shootings are when four or more people have been killed in one time period. The majority of the time the people who commit these types of acts are white males. However, that may sound extremely stereotypical, but it is true. Between the times of 1982 and 2017 white men have caused 51 out of the 90 mass shootings. Furthermore, that is over half. Typically white males have been the ones to do these shootings, but black people have played a part. Between the times of 1982 and 2017 black males have caused 15 out of the 90 mass shootings.
The mental health system in The United States is flawed and needs serious reform. Many of the mentally ill are failing to seek the help that they need and deserve in a country like the U.S is baffling and must be reassessed. The system causes a rise in gun violence and more specifically, mass shootings. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration when approaching mental disorders and their correlation with mass shootings. Things such as type of mental disorder, the widespread diagnosis in the US, masculinity in men, and gun laws themselves. This research was done through a series of articles, interviews, and books. Mental disorders need to be taken largely into consideration when trying to find a cause for a shooting, and
Media today plays a big part in the mass shootings believe it or not. “Media contagion” is largely responsible for the increase in these often deadly outbursts”(Media Contagion). By showing the number of casualties on media this can give ideas to the next shooter. The next possible shooter could get an idea of trying to outdo the previous shooter by attempting to kill more people and to do more damage. There was a scenario where a TV reporter posted a video of himself gunning down two ex colleagues and posted the video all over Twitter and Facebook, the next day after this all occurred the shots of him gunning down innocent people from the shooters perspective were plastered all over the newspaper. “The Daily News said that it published the images “to convey the true scale” of the attack “at a time when it is so easy for the public to become inured to such senseless violence”(Follman, Mark). This shows how it can influence other mentally ill people to shoot to kill and shoot to kill a mass number of people. This all has been researched and could be somewhat prevented by not so much giving out the details of an incident like this and giving titles out like “greatest mass shooting” to influence other people.
"I'm angry someone would do this to us. There are lives ruined, families ruined, and our whole school year is ruined" (Brackely 1). Casey Brackely, once a student that attended Columbine High School, remembers the tragedy of the horrific Columbine shooting that killed and injured many students. Mass shootings in the United States have been on the rise since the 1980’s, especially in the last decade. These shooters motives and profiles are almost all terrifyingly alike. Many of these shooters try to imitate and parallel the tragic shooting of the Columbine High School in 1999. These shootings have made peaceful organizations, such as an elementary school; become a place of violence and death. Currently, in the United States, an epidemic of
Many people will debate that mental illness is the cause of a lot of these mass shootings. But are mental-illness solely to blame for these violent acts?
It seems like an epidemic to turn on the television and have the screen be bombarded with news broadcasts surrounding a school, college, and even churches and having those two words engrained at the bottom, “Mass Shooting”. In just those two words dread stabs its way into our hearts. Soon the media interviews a bystander that witnessed the massacre. They describe how the blissful harmony of mundane life was broken by the abrupt thwack of lead as it glides through the air. The number of mass shootings has exponential increased. What drives a person to such an immoral act? Finding the irrational motivation behind this problem goes deeper than blaming firearms, instead it means finding the cure to the virus of mass shootings through the three causes in the seeking of glorification, lack of an authoritative figure, and the obsession of some radical ideology that devalues respect of human lives. These three factors are in part what have allowed the once random acts of mass shootings into an increasing occurrence of everyday life in America.
There is an assumption that if you understand the minds of serial killers, or persons who commit mass shootings, that it may help prevent mass shootings. “Mass shootings are not on the rise, but have held steady over three decades, randomly clustering in time to trick our brains into finding a pattern of increase where none actually exists” (Shermer 3). Mass shootings happen at varying times without rhyme or reason. Some think that a psychological disorder or some genetic defect could be the reason people commit these crimes. Although we cannot prevent mass shootings, we can educate on how mental health issues can be a precursor to such a tragedy, and how better laws can create a safer environment.