Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

nightwing1240

(1,996 posts)
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 07:59 AM Jan 2023

Why number of US mass shootings has risen sharply

snip

Different definitions exist for what constitutes a mass shooting, but non-profit the Gun Violence Archive - which counts shootings where four or more people are killed or injured, excluding the gunman - has tracked 40 such incidents in the US since the start of the year.

It is the highest number of mass shootings on record for any January, according to the organisation that publicly tracks gun-related deaths and injuries in the US.

snip

Data shows that all types of gun violence - from homicide to suicide to mass shootings - are on a mostly upwards trajectory in the US.

In 2019, the total number of gun-related deaths in the US was 33,599. In 2022, the number of deaths rose to 44,290 - a 31% increase. Most of these deaths are suicides by a firearm, followed by homicides.

While mass shootings often draw alarm, they make up a small fraction of gun-related deaths - in 2020, mass shooting victims made up 1.1% of overall firearm deaths.

Still, active shooter incidents have seen a sharp rise in recent years - nine of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in the US occurred after 2007.

Link - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64377360
--------------------------
I don't have the answer to solve this but it is an epidemic that must be dealt with and the sooner the better. It is simply too damn easy to get guns in America. Perhaps that is the place to start. Make harder to get one.

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

bucolic_frolic

(46,995 posts)
1. We're awfully late on harder-to-get. We should question current motivations of the shooters
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 08:13 AM
Jan 2023

For the longest while I thought moms, wives, girlfriends would stem the tide, appeal to peace and prosperity and future and career. That idea went up in a blaze of gunfire.

The shooters are angry, inhumane, disconnected from empathy, love, relevance, and life-sustaining purpose.

Have many or any of them sought mental health treatment? We don't know. Are psychologists failing, or out of the loop?

Are drugs usually involved? Any studies?

Praying to God and vibing warm thoughts ain't working. Especially after the fact.

In my view at this moment, this issue needs outside interpretation. And by that I mean a high level psychological and sociological study, with a heavy weight of professional opinion from academic and clinician circles OUTSIDE the U.S.A. Because we ain't getting it done.

AndyS

(14,559 posts)
7. We have no studies because in 1996 an amendment was added to the omnibus bill that
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 09:17 AM
Jan 2023

prevented any gun related study 'for the purpose of gun control'. That was interpreted to mean ANY study of guns and violence. Academia halted all studies into guns for fear of losing all funding for all studies Only in the last few years has that amendment been loosened somwhat.

It still has a very detrimental effect on any scientific look at causes and remedies to gun violence.

It is the Dickey amendment.

Jrose

(1,341 posts)
2. Increase in mass shootings
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 08:16 AM
Jan 2023

Notice that the huge wave in shootings over the past several months coincides with the reinstatements of racist, anti-Semitic, fascistic accounts to Twitter and Facebook.

nightwing1240

(1,996 posts)
3. Hard not to see a correlation of those with the shootings
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 08:30 AM
Jan 2023

Very good observation on your part, thank you.

Jrose

(1,341 posts)
4. Words have consequences
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 08:44 AM
Jan 2023

As clearly shown by Trump's loud, angry, lie-filled incitement of the Jan. 6, 21 mob attack, words broadcast over the air, on social media and in large gatherings can have dire consequences.

Paladin

(28,763 posts)
12. Mass quantities of readily-available guns have consequences.
Wed Feb 1, 2023, 11:44 AM
Feb 2023

But blaming words will make you very popular in this region of DU.

Irish_Dem

(57,542 posts)
5. The GOP goal is to create hatred, rage, chaos, violence.
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 08:54 AM
Jan 2023

Demonize various groups to make them targets.

This makes for a numb, docile, apathetic populace.
Perfect setting for the GOP to achieve their goal of permanent power.

Welcome to DU!

Scrivener7

(52,745 posts)
6. Because a lot of mediocre radically conservative white guys are butt-hurt because other people are
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 09:08 AM
Jan 2023

getting opportunities.

And each mass shooting eggs on the other radically conservative mediocre white guys and makes a mass shooting seem really keen to them, so they go out and do it.

Figuring this out is not rocket science. The media just won't say it.

AndyS

(14,559 posts)
8. I heard of a recent study of 160 mass shootings that showed
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 09:20 AM
Jan 2023

25% were motivated by far right ideology and the remainder almost entirely a personal grievance.

25% is a big number.

ancianita

(38,557 posts)
10. Both have a common denominator -- chronic elevation of negative emotions due to exposure
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 02:00 PM
Jan 2023

to the toxic online environment, whether it's mainstream media or favorite FUD sites, reinforced randomly in social settings, even in healthy arenas like sports; chronic elevation of adrenaline addiction & cortisone elevation at the physical levels, across live and media environments.

Thinking becomes incapacitated and continually validated by others' incapacitated communications. It's unsustainable. The only choice seems to be to desperately end it, inflicting death either on those nearest, 'foreign' others, or one's self.

Mix guns and conflict driven news environments with no other ways and means to sort things out, a murder/suicide solution becomes front and center as the only way through it all.

Studies have shown that red flag laws help save lives. But the breakdown across red flag and non-red flag states needs more public exposure, even if gun owners in non-red flag states seem too far gone.

It would be more helpful to everyone if studies were done on the common biochemical cause(s) between the 25% and 75%. Then make direct recommendations to state institutions, lawmakers, & public. I'd bet is such studies they'd prove that gun deaths, for either reason, are now a national public health crisis. That should be outside the purview of the Dickey amendment. With media coverage of such pronouncements, money that's been cut off for medicaid and institutional help in red states might re-appear.

Just my lurker opinion.




usonian

(13,836 posts)
9. If, as "they" say, only deranged people kill people, not guns, then ...
Thu Jan 26, 2023, 11:29 AM
Jan 2023

How about a psychological test for gun buyers?

Could start with a simple question: "Who is President of the United States?"
That would rule out a lot of deranged people right away.

P.S. Here's an article on psychological screening for cops.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cop-doc/201709/pre-employment-psychological-screening-cops


yagotme

(3,816 posts)
11. How about getting treatment/locking up those that are on the path to murder?
Wed Feb 1, 2023, 11:14 AM
Feb 2023

I'm getting tired of the news reports of someone murdering someone, and their name is followed by the statement "Who has a lengthy police record". Ask New Yorkers about the effects of the catch and release program they currently have. Violent assaulters are getting out before the ink is dry on the police report. If some of these violent individuals get away with one thing, well, then, why not move on up the felony ladder? They weren't "punished" for their priors, so why not???

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Gun Control & RKBA»Why number of US mass sho...