Has 2015 been the year of the mass shooting?

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 08:54:25 -0400

As most of you know, I normally try to stay away from starting some of the more politically fuels threads on here. However, recently, the Washington Post ran a story following the Oregon shooting that outlines exactly how crazy this year has been. With 274 days (at the time of publishing) gone already in 2015, we have seen 294 mass shootings. The WP defines a "mass shooting as an event with 4 or more people killed (can include the shooter).

So RP, is there something that we as a Veterans population do to make sure 2016 isn't a repeat? Are we at risk of seeing these type of events continue? And I might be asking for trouble with this, but what do you think is the main reason that we are seeing such a high level of events like these?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/01/2015-274-days-294-mass-shootings-hundreds-dead/

So far in 2015, we've had 274 days and 294 mass shootings

Mass shootings are a near-daily occurrence in America.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Oct 5 at 2015 8:56 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 08:56:20 -0400

That is sad to hear this. What has this country come to?

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 5 at 2015 9:01 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 09:01:57 -0400

I brought this up the other day, but you have to look at each of these instances as specific events and what was involved.

The WP is playing a game and juggling terminology trying to make each of these events seem like a "rampage shooting" like the one in Oregon as compared to what they are.

A drive by shooting (criminal activity) with a specific goal where 4 people are shot (not killed) is a Mass Shooting (correction to the statement in main post) whereas Mass Killing is 4 people have been killed. An instance where a family member shoots up his own house then himself, is a mass shooting. These aren't generally "reported" because they don't cause the same emotional reaction.

That said, they have not statistically affected the (Gun) Violence trend (Decline) in the US over the last 30 years. It has been a steady decline. These are Isolated incidents, which are emotionally jarring, but they are isolated. It's a big nation. Things like this happen in a nation of 320M. It sounds cold, but just because something is scary, doesn't mean it is statistically relevant.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 9:11 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 09:11:49 -0400

Within days of the shooting in Oregon, an 11 year old boy shot an 8 year old girl over a puppy...Folks, we've gone off the rails.

It isn't guns. If you want to talk sheer volume, we've come a long way since the days when you carried a rifle, shotgun or pistol, same as we carry cell phones today.

It's an attitude that embraces a general hopelessness and lack of accountability. It's children being raised to question everything and believe in nothing. It's a society whose values have become so eroded, life itself is of little consequence.

This only stops when we realize monsters are made, not born...It starts when we threaten parents for punishing unruly kids and ends when a person who has never been made to conform decides they have an "excuse" to exact their own ruthless, soul-less vengeance on the innocent.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 9:23 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 09:23:28 -0400

We need to have more gun free zones.

Yes, I am being sarcastic.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 5 at 2015 11:36 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 11:36:05 -0400

Question on this....it mentions this as being the deadliest year, but is it because of better data tracking, easier access to data through social media and 24hr news, or the fact that it used it's own definition instead of the FBI's which would definitely change the outcome. If memory serves Chicago had 40 people shot over one weekend. I forget how many died, but in this case, and add in all the other large cities with high crimes with weapons, wouldn't this data be seriously flawed? We are powerless overall. Not in a negative sense though. We can influence through education and deeds, but in the end, it comes down to the individual to accept what is being taught and implement what was taught. Also outside influences are heavier with this generation than in ones past. I'll speak to mine. When I was a child, my parents personally knew who my friends were. There was no online buddies or stuff like that, so they held a stronger grip on me and what I did because more of it was seen by them. In todays world, you can chat, game, make friends, do whatever and not leave your bedroom. How does that work on interpersonal skills? Coping skills? Managing true crisis? When I was young, you get mad, you fight, you both go home. Now you get mad, grab a weapon and shoot everything in sight. Has America changed? No. has the ability to parent, be a mentor and a role model, along with the influx of technology changed the people yes. The genie is out of the bottle forever. But what we can do is manage through talking, and judicious application of laws how that genie gets used. This cannot be through the use of political parties, but through the use of congress and the presidents office as parents, and eyewitnesses to the tragedies that are hammering us today.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Oct 5 at 2015 10:57 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 22:57:01 -0400

Mass shootings....Drive by's....what ever the classification....this sort of thing just happens way too often.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2015 11:27 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 23:27:40 -0400

I see a lot of mass shootings in the ME. They just aren't reported the same way in the US since "we the people" are the bogey man. And before anyone says that is war, I'll remind you of the Geneva Conventions and the Hague. The crimes they are commuting are against humanity. It takes a sick, mentally deranged individual to do the things they are doing.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=30f_ [login to see]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/shocking-footage-shows-isis-thugs-3932256

http://www.zerocensorship.com/t/uncensored-isis-execution/136259-isis-teenagers-mass-syria-handgun-shooting-execution-in-palmyra-syria-graphic-video

LiveLeak.com - ISIS mass murders in Iraq

Redefining the Media

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Oct 11 at 2015 8:29 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 20:29:24 -0400

Wasserman Schultz claimed that "380 Americans have been killed in 294 mass shootings in 2015 alone." But is that true.....I can't find any data to substantiate these stats.... And she makes these statements and nobody challenges her or if they do she does her thing and changes the subject...