Simone Lawson
The United States has experienced more mass shootings than any other country. However, the lack of a consistent definition of mass shooting makes it difficult to determine the exact number of incidents and fatalities. The FBI defines an active shooter as an individual attempting to kill people in a populated area, but the definition of mass shooting is less clear. The Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012 defines a 'mass killing' as three or more killings in a single incident, while media outlets like CNN and crime violence research groups like the Gun Violence Archive define a mass shooting as involving four or more individuals shot or injured in a single incident. This discrepancy in definitions has led to varying statistics, with 103 deaths in 2021 according to the FBI's definition and 706 deaths according to the Gun Violence Archive's definition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of shooters | 1 or more individuals |
| Shooter's use of a firearm | Yes |
| Number of people killed | Minimum of 3 or 4 |
| Number of people injured | Minimum of 4 (excluding the shooter) |
| Location | Public place, populated area, single or multiple locations in close geographical proximity |
| Targeting of victims | Sometimes indiscriminate, excluding gang violence, armed robbery, warfare, and attacks by unidentified perpetrators |
| Shooter's intention or motivation | Unlawful use or threat of force or violence |
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What You'll Learn
The number of casualties
The Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit organisation, defines a mass shooting as an event with a minimum of four victims shot or injured, excluding the shooter. This definition is used by major media outlets such as Reuters, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal. Using the FBI's definition, there were 103 deaths in mass shootings in 2021, excluding perpetrators. In contrast, there were 706 deaths in the same year using the Gun Violence Archive's definition.
The lack of a consistent definition of a mass shooting makes it challenging to determine the exact number of casualties and trends over time. However, it is clear that mass shootings have resulted in significant casualties in the US. For example, in the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, 58 people were killed, and as many as 850 were wounded. In 2015, a student at Umpqua Community College fatally shot nine people before taking his own life. According to Mother Jones magazine, more than a thousand people have been killed in mass shootings since 1982.
The high number of casualties in mass shootings has often prompted scrutiny and changes to local firearms regulations. The issue of gun control is deeply divisive in the US, with some calling for stricter gun control measures and others resisting any restrictions as an infringement on the Second Amendment. The lack of consensus on the definition of a mass shooting and the resulting challenge in determining the exact number of casualties further complicate the debate surrounding gun control.
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The type of weapon used
The specific type of firearm used in mass shootings can vary, but some incidents have involved high-powered rifles, such as AR-15 style weapons. In the case of the Las Vegas shooting in 2017, the perpetrator used AR-style rifles modified with "bump stocks" to achieve a fully automatic rate of fire. This allowed him to fire more than 1,000 rounds in 11 minutes, resulting in a high number of casualties.
Handguns are also commonly used in mass shootings, and these can include semi-automatic pistols or revolvers. Some perpetrators may also use multiple firearms during an attack, as was the case in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, where the shooter employed both a semi-automatic rifle and handguns.
While less common, other types of firearms such as shotguns or assault rifles have also been used in mass shootings. The choice of weapon may depend on various factors, including the perpetrator's access to firearms, their level of planning, and the intended target or location of the attack.
The availability and regulation of firearms play a significant role in the types of weapons used in mass shootings. In countries with stricter gun control laws, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, mass shootings are relatively rare. However, in the United States, where the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms, there is significant debate around gun control, and mass shootings are more prevalent.
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The motive of the shooter
The motive of a mass shooter can vary, but some common factors are personal or psychological reasons, such as individuals who are deeply disgruntled, seeking revenge, or are intensely angry at a perceived grievance. Some shooters may also be motivated by fame-seeking, with the desire to surpass past records. Criminologist James Allen Fox noted that most mass murderers do not have a criminal record, but an article in The New York Times found that six out of 15 recent mass shooters had previous run-ins with law enforcement, and six had mental health issues.
Mass shooting expert and former FBI profiler Mary O'Toole uses the phrase "injustice collector" to characterize the motives of some perpetrators. These individuals often have a history of legal troubles, recreational drug use, alcohol abuse, and non-psychotic psychiatric or neurological symptoms. They may also be motivated by a range of ideological goals, including political ideologies (such as neo-Nazism, terrorism, or white supremacism), religious extremism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, or a combination of these factors.
While mental illness is often cited as a potential factor, a study by Vanderbilt University researchers found that fewer than five percent of 120,000 gun-related killings in the United States between 2001 and 2010 were perpetrated by people diagnosed with mental illness. Instead, forensic psychologist Stephen Ross cites extreme anger and the notion of working for a cause as primary explanations. Additionally, John Roman of the Urban Institute argues that there is a broader issue of "angry young men" that needs to be addressed.
Media coverage and online search interest levels have been found to correlate with shorter intervals between mass shooting incidents, suggesting that online media may contribute to an increasing incidence rate. This is supported by the finding that mass shootings tend to occur in clusters, with hate-motivated and fame-seeking shootings on the rise since 2015.
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The number of shooters
The FBI's definition of an "active shooter" specifically refers to an individual or multiple shooters who are currently active and have not yet been apprehended by authorities. The term "mass shooting" can include situations with a single shooter or multiple shooters working together.
It is important to note that the term "mass shooting" is distinct from "mass murder" or "mass killing," which refer to the number of deaths in an incident, regardless of the weapon used. The FBI defines "mass murder" as "a multiple homicide incident in which four or more victims are murdered within one event and in close geographical proximity."
The lack of a universally accepted definition for "mass shooting" leads to variations in criteria used by different organizations tracking these incidents. Some sources, such as Mother Jones, define a mass shooting as resulting in "three or more victims killed by the attacker," excluding the perpetrator and incidents of gang violence, armed robbery, or unidentified perpetrators.
The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit organization, defines a mass shooting as an event with a "minimum of four victims shot, either injured or killed," excluding any shooters who may also be injured or killed. This definition is widely referenced by media outlets such as Reuters, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal.
The varying definitions of "mass shooting" and the inclusion or exclusion of shooters as victims contribute to the challenges in determining the exact number of mass shooting fatalities and trends over time.
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Whether it is classed as domestic terrorism
The classification of mass shootings as domestic terrorism is a complex issue that has been the subject of much debate in the United States. While some people argue that mass shootings meet the criteria for domestic terrorism, others maintain that they are distinct from acts of terrorism.
The lack of a universally accepted definition of "mass shooting" further complicates the matter. Various organizations and government agencies, including the FBI, employ different criteria when defining and classifying these incidents. The FBI defines an "active shooter" as "an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area," but the definition of a mass shooting is less clear. Some sources suggest that a mass shooting involves the use of firearms to injure or kill multiple victims in a single incident, while others specify a minimum of three or four victims.
The distinction between mass shootings and acts of domestic terrorism lies primarily in the shooter's intention, motivation, and underlying ideology. Domestic terrorism, as defined by the FBI, involves "violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature." It is often associated with attempts to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or influence government policies. Terrorism is typically categorized as either domestic or international, depending on the origins of the perpetrators rather than the location of the attack.
Not all mass shootings are classified as domestic terrorism. To be considered domestic terrorism, certain elements must be present in the shooter's intentions or motivations, coupled with the unlawful use or threat of force or violence. While mass shootings may result in a high number of casualties, they are not always driven by ideological goals or intentions to intimidate a population or influence government policies. Some mass shootings are motivated by personal or psychological factors, such as anger, grievances, or a desire for notoriety.
However, there have been instances where mass shootings were deemed to meet the criteria for domestic terrorism. For example, the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, in 2022, which had evidence of being racially motivated, led some leaders and citizens to call for it to be recognized as an act of domestic terrorism.
In conclusion, the classification of mass shootings as domestic terrorism depends on the specific circumstances, intentions, and motivations of the shooter. While some mass shootings may exhibit characteristics that align with domestic terrorism, others may be driven by personal or psychological factors that distinguish them from acts of terrorism. The lack of a consistent definition of "mass shooting" further complicates the task of determining whether a particular incident constitutes domestic terrorism.
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Frequently asked questions
A mass shooting is a violent crime in which one or more attackers use a firearm to kill or injure multiple individuals in rapid succession.
The FBI defines an active shooter as an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.
While the term "active shooter" specifies the use of a firearm, "mass shooting" can refer to firearm-related events with various outcomes depending on which definition is being used.
There is no widely accepted specific definition, and different organizations tracking such incidents use different criteria. The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit that is referenced by many media outlets, defines a mass shooting as an event with a "minimum of four victims shot, either injured or killed, not including any shooter who may also have been killed or injured in the incident".
The United States has had the most mass shootings of any country in the world. In 2021, there were 103 deaths in mass shootings (excluding perpetrators) using the FBI's definition, and 706 deaths using the Gun Violence Archive's definition. In 2022, there were 682 mass shootings according to the Gun Violence Archive.
