Introduction
People are sick and tired of mass shootings. President Obama expressed frustration and anger when he reacted to the latest incident that jolted the United States. This type of violent rampage breeds paranoia and fear. It is of utmost importance to implement strategies that will radically reduce the incidence of this problem in this country. However, it is impossible to accomplish this goal without a fundamental understanding of the nature of this particular phenomenon. For example, the high profile reporting and intense media coverage in the aftermath of a mass shooting incident encourages mentally disturbed people to vent out their negative emotions through this method. A mass shooting is not only an American phenomenon.
Defining Mass Shootings
A mass shooting is defined as a single event that involves gun violence that resulted in the death of at least six people (Stein 444). It also requires the participation of one or more shooters acting together (Stein 444). Also, it occurs in a relatively public setting. This phenomenon is characterized by the use of guns to murder in schools, places of worship, and businesses (Gonzalez and Wekerle 269). It is interesting to note that a serial killer murdering six people in one week is not an example of this type of criminal behavior. Furthermore, gun violence that resulted in the death of several individuals does not have the same impact as that of mass shootings (Stein 444). This type of criminal activity creates a different kind of effect because the deaths of several people occur within a single day at the hands of one or two gunmen (Cook & Goss 46).
Furthermore, this phenomenon negatively affects the members of the community (Cook and Ludwig 3). As a result, the mass murder of people in a public setting draws greater mass media attention. In defining mass shootings it is imperative to pay careful attention to the previously discussed characteristics. First, it is a traumatic event because the shooting occurred in a public place. Second, it draws high profile news reporting and more intense media coverage (Cook and Goss 46). Furthermore, it is interesting to note that the heavily publicized destruction of innocent lives in the hands of mass-murdering gunmen in recent years occurred in schools, churches, and offices. It is also important to note that after major news outlets covered the Columbine High School Massacre, a wave of mass shootings followed in relatively quick succession (Schildkraut and Elsass 14).
There is a connection between sensationalizing the news reports regarding mass shootings and the high number of mass shooting incidents in recent years (Cook and Goss 47). This is based on the observation of researchers when they discovered the increase in the number of incidents after this type of criminal activity became the focus of mass media groups (Cook and Goss 47). It is also important to note that mentally unstable people without the capacity to vent their anger and frustrations through healthier alternatives are compelled to think about shooting people, because of what they see on TV (Gupta 36). People struggling with the impact of hate and discrimination are bombarded with mass media messages about the decisive action of mass murderers (Gupta 36).
Differentiating Mass Shootings from other forms of Mass Murders
There are at least five major characteristics of the said phenomenon that differentiates it from other forms of mass murderers and these are listed as follows: 1) a single event; 2) time frame of 24 hours; 3) occurs in a public place like schools and church buildings; 4) does not occur in the context of war, gang violence, and terrorist activity; and 5) it draws intense media coverage (Cook and Goss 46). This single violent event is considered an example of a mass shooting incident if the victims were murdered within 24 hours (Mc Innis 532). The information gathered from the above-mentioned discussion leads to the conclusion that this type of criminal behavior is not equivalent to the work of serial murderers, because they kill people in several days or months (Mc Innis 532).
The destruction of Jews using automatic pistols during the Holocaust is not considered as examples of the said phenomenon (Overy 328). It is important to point out that this type of criminal activity occurs outside the realm of war and organized crime (Mc Innis 532). For example, there were many instances of mass shootings that occurred in Germany, and other parts of Europe during the Second World War, however, none were considered as an example of a mass shooting based on how 21st-century people came to understand this particular subject matter (Overy 328). According to one commentary, “thousands of people died in mass shootings – murdered by mobile killing squads exterminating the Jewish population of countless towns and villages across Eastern Europe” (Overy 328).
These incidents are similar to mass-murdering gunmen that created fear and panic in recent years because there is a shooter that utilized the power of automatic weapons to murder a significant number of individuals (Stein 444). However, the incidents described by World War II historians are not considered in the same category (Overy 329). Finally, mass shootings set itself apart from other forms of mass murders, because it draws intense media coverage (Cook and Goss 47). Part of the reason for the significant media coverage is the location of the shooting and the type of victims (Cook and Goss 47). Consider for instance the difference between the said phenomenon that occurred in school campuses and the same type of behavior that was manifested in a secret concentration camp during World War II (Overy 328). It is not hard to understand which one is more interesting for present-day readers and consumers of news content (Mc Innis 532). In other words, it is easier to understand the motivation of news outlets to cover this type of incident (Schildkraut and Elsass 115).
Taking Sides
There are two opposing world views when it comes to the study of mass shootings. The first world view describes this type of criminal activity as a relatively new phenomenon and it is the product of American culture – specifically the culture that glorifies the ownership of guns. Those who support this worldview strengthen their argument by saying that before the 1900s, rapid-firing weapons or automatic weapons were not accessible to the general public (Stein 444). Besides, as the world saw an increase in the availability of automatic weapons, there was also an increase in the incidence of the said phenomenon (Stein 444). Since it is easy to purchase handguns in America, and the recent incidents of mass shootings occurred in America, the supporters of this worldview insisted that mass-murdering students and teenagers are a uniquely American phenomenon.
They cited for instance the commentary that states “seven of the eight largest mass shootings in modern U.S. history have occurred in the past 25 years” (Mc Innis 534). On the other hand, those who supported the second worldview refuted the idea that this kind of criminal behavior is a recent phenomenon and that it is a byproduct of American culture. The supporters of the second worldview pointed out that in 1982, a horrific example of mass shootings was witnessed outside the United States. In that year, a drunk South Korean police officer named Woo Bum-Kon raided the police armory and started a shooting spree that left 57 people dead and 35 others wounded (Lieberman 291). They also cited the fact that the Columbine mass shooting incident was not the starting point of the resurgence of mass shootings in the United States. In 1966 for instance, a former United States Marine climbed the University of Texas Tower, and he used his skills as a trained sniper to gun down several people (Blair et al 3).
Conclusion
Mass shootings are differentiated from other forms of mass murders because of three critical factors. First, it is not a byproduct of war, gang violence, or terrorist activity. Second, it requires a certain type of setting, such as schools, offices, and places of worship. Third, it attracts a great deal of media attention. Gun-wielding mass murderers are not unique to American society. However, it is important to point out that a significant number of mass shooting incidents were reported by US mass media. Nevertheless, the general public is now aware of the fact that this type of criminal activity is not unique to America.
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