A New Study on Mass Shootings Has Some Stunning Results

[eridani]

http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/08/24/a-new-study-on-mass-shootings-has-some-stunning-results/

he study found that public mass shootings in the U.S. were distinct from those abroad. Mass shooters in America, for example, were more likely to use multiple weapons than shooters abroad. They were also more likely to attack in schools, factories, warehouses, and office buildings than shooters in other countries.

“Given the fact that the United States has over 200 million more firearms in circulation than any other country, it’s not surprising that our public mass shooters would be more likely to arm themselves with multiple weapons than foreign offenders,” Lankford said. “I was surprised, however, that the average number of victims killed by each shooter was actually higher in other countries (8.81 victims) than it was in the United States (6.87 victims) because so many horrific attacks have occurred here.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lankford also found a strong connection between America’s civilian firearm ownership rate and its number of mass shootings. According to the 2007 Small Arms Survey, United States, Yemen, Switzerland, Finland, and Serbia, rank among the top five countries for firearms owned per capita. They are all also ranked in the top 15 countries for public mass shooters per capita.

“My study provides empirical evidence, based on my quantitative assessment of 171 countries, that a nation’s civilian firearm ownership rate is the strongest predictor of its number of public mass shooters,” he concluded. “Until now, everyone was simply speculating about the relationship between firearms and public mass shootings. My study provides empirical evidence of a positive association between the two.”

[TreasonousBastard]

1. ...

[Jamastiene]

6. Share?

This ought to be on Pay Per View.

[murielm99]

2. Sweden has more than its share

of mass shootings. Where do they rank in terms of gun ownership?

I noticed that the shooter in the high speed train, who was stopped by the four Americans, was also heavily armed.

I do not disagree with what the article is saying. I simply wonder how much more complicated this might be.

[eridani]

4. It's a statistical study, not an anecdotal one

Not sure that the math can yield really fine-grained pictures here.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. It's tied about 8th, with France and Canada

http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2007/en/full/Small-Arms-Survey-2007-Chapter-02-EN.pdf

Figure 2.3, p.58.

Norway, Sweden, Austria, Germany, France and Canada have very similar rates, and are in 7th to 12th position. The other country in the top 6 is Iraq, which actually has slightly more guns per capita than Serbia; but perhaps they've said that is a special case, what with the war.

[1939]

31. Strange, isn't it?

A lot of the countries in the top ten for gun ownership or mass murders are also the countries where everybody would like to live (US, Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Austria, France).

[underahedgerow]

3. Another important distinction is that the attacks in the US target women & men's issues with

women rather than political issues.

Ultimately the last nutter was pissed off about the object of his obsession dating a black man. Far too often the school shootings are about a male's inferiority issues with regard to females, etc.

Just sayin.

[eridani]

5. Or white issues with black people, as in SC n/t

[bettyellen]

42. They were referring to that incident- shooter lost a gf to an AA.

[SheilaT]

7. More guns, more mass shootings, the shooters armed with more guns.

No real surprise here.

I happen to be in favor of gun confiscation -- it's okay, I know that almost no one agrees with me so you don't need to bother to post anything contrary here -- for the simple reason that fewer guns will equal fewer gun deaths, whether mass or individual shootings. I do understand that confiscation is extremely unlikely to occur. But a girl can dream.

[murielm99]

8. Some cities have run programs

where people turn in their guns. They vary from place to place. Often, they get a good response.

[SheilaT]

38. I think they did something like that in the city I currently live in.

Have no way of knowing how successful it was. Since I don't own a gun, never have, probably never will, it's not something I'd pay a lot of attention to.

[Snobblevitch]

40. Are you doing anything to help your dream to come true?

[pinboy3niner]

9. I'm a combat vet who doesn't like guns

And I'm not the only one.

[cliffordu]

10. Same here.

[pinboy3niner]

12. I love you, brother

Nice to see you again!

[cliffordu]

37. Yep, same here.

Back 45 years the third of sept.
Weird.

[pinboy3niner]

18. Why do you think your fucking ignorant spew is worth posting?

[pinboy3niner]

22. You clearly have no clue about vets in war and after

Sad that you insist on remaining so ignorant.

[TeddyR]

27. Are you actually claiming that

All post WWII violence was "directed against innocent people"? History/facts don't seem to be your strong point.

[pinboy3niner]

30. Thankyou

We were up against North Vietnamese Army soldiers who were trying to kill us. Hardly innocents. Their AK fire resulted in my being medevac'd, spending nearly 19 months in the hospital, and eventually being retired from the Army for partial disability.

[TeddyR]

26. Wow

That was a completely inappropriate response. Fairly offensive frankly.

[pinboy3niner]

32. pinboy3niner wants what?

When you're surrounded by uniformed troops with AK-47s who are trying to kill you and you fight back to survive, tell me how you're committing murder.

[smirkymonkey]

46. Disgusting, actually.

[Hoyt]

28. WTF? I don't think that's deserved. I have VN vet friends who detest guns too.

Whatever circumstances got them in VN, they came out better people.

[pinboy3niner]

35. From the epilogue to 'Platoon'...

But be that as it may, those of us who DID make it have an obligation to BUILD again. To teach to others what we know, and to try with what's left of OUR lives, to find a goodness and a meaning to this life...

[TexasTowelie]

13. Locking thread.

Statement of Purpose

Discuss politics, issues, and current events. Posts about Israel/Palestine, religion, guns, showbiz, or sports are restricted in this forum. Posts about the Democratic primaries, conspiracy theories and disruptive meta-discussion are forbidden. For more information, click here.

You might want to post this thread in either GC RK&BA and/or GCRA groups.

[TexasTowelie]

14. Unlocked thread to allow additional consideration by the forum hosts

after petition and because I'm going to bed.

[eridani]

15. Note for those thinking this belongs in one of our gun forums--this is NOT just about the US! n/t

[pinboy3niner]

16. This belongs in GD even under the current gun thread rules

I'm glad they unlocked it.

[malaise]

19. +1,000

I was shocked that a study with empirical evidence could be locked. Facts are facts.

That is so not DU.

Rec

[Recursion]

21. Well, sure, but post, say, an empirical study of Israeli settlements in the West Bank in GD

and see how long it lasts...

The reason for those groups is because people who aren't interested in (gun policy/sports/Israel-Palestine/9-11 conspiracy theories/whatever) get sick of the flame wars that they inevitably bring crowding out GD.

[malaise]

23. Both should be posted

Let them flame away.

[Recursion]

24. I wish it was not mass shootings driving our gun control conversation

Because as spectacular (in the literal sense) as they are, they're so incredibly rare compared to "ordinary" shootings that I'm not sure how worthwhile preventing them is as a goal -- particularly if the solution to mass shootings is orthogonal to the solution to ordinary shootings (which I think it is). In fact, I'd like some journalist to take all the suicides, domestic murders, fatal robberies, drunk fights, etc. from one single day and cover those shootings like they do a mass shooting.

[GreatGazoo]

25. Other studies: white males 14 to 24 on psych meds make up the majority of mass shooters

[pinboy3niner]

33. Blaming psych meds is absolutey ridiculous

That is plausible only to those who know nothing about psych meds.

[underpants]

34. Were they ON their meds?

Having worked in a mental health community service board I can tell you that that is the #1 question. MH drugs do a fantastic job on containing violent behavior. Without them we would have a great many more violent acts - guns or otherwise.

[pinboy3niner]

36. Thanks to the jurors

I did not alert, but someone did and the jury response was impressive.

[Doctor_J]

39. Thanks, captain obvious

Least surprising news this week

[eridani]

41. Even with obvious stuff, you really need the numbers n/t

[ManiacJoe]

43. Getting the numbers is always good.

The fun begins when you look at the conclusions that folks try to draw from the numbers.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

44. He only looked at mass shootings? Why not mass killings as a whole?

[etherealtruth]

45. Sadly, unsurprising ....

...but, very good to see more and more research on the U.S's "gun problems"