catzmeow
Gold Member
- Banned
- #1
Statistically speaking, mass murder hasn't changed much in the U.S. since the 1980s. In fact, violent crime is at the lowest level since the late 1970s, even when we include the recent mass murders. Since the 1980s, there has only been a small increase in the average number of mass murder victims annually (1.2%).
Mass murder rises as other killings decline - East Valley Tribune: Nation / World
I know it's a horrifying topic, but this isn't a new problem. In fact, it's barely changed since the 80s.
Realizing that fact can keep us from making overcorrections in public policy, whether those proposed plans are to limit firearm availability, censor violent video games, or post armed guards in every school in our county. Regardless of gun laws, the distribution of violent video games, or armed security, the U.S. has historically suffered from mass murders.
I find that even though I have an emotional reaction to these kinds of crimes, it's helpful to look at crime stats in context:
That's an annual average of about 163. In 2012, there were 151 victims of mass murder in the U.S.
That's actually lower than average.
Here's another helpful article...mass murders represent only about 1% of all homicides. In spite of the horrifying nature of the mass murders in 2012, they have remained rare.
Mass killings occur in USA once every two weeks
Personally, I'm not a fan of overreacting, and I don't believe we should be making major changes because of Newtown.
But, that's just me. YMMV.
Mass murder rises as other killings decline - East Valley Tribune: Nation / World
According to recently released FBI statistics, homicides involving two or more victims rose from 1,360 incidents in 2008 to 1,428 incidents last year. That's a 5 percent increase even though homicides, overall, dropped nearly 7 percent...
Data on mass murders for 2009 are not yet available, but these killings involving four or more victims have been rising slightly in recent years. For the three-year period 2006 to 2008, an annual average of 163 Americans perished in acts of mass killing, up from the annual average of 161 during the 1980s.
I know it's a horrifying topic, but this isn't a new problem. In fact, it's barely changed since the 80s.
Realizing that fact can keep us from making overcorrections in public policy, whether those proposed plans are to limit firearm availability, censor violent video games, or post armed guards in every school in our county. Regardless of gun laws, the distribution of violent video games, or armed security, the U.S. has historically suffered from mass murders.
I find that even though I have an emotional reaction to these kinds of crimes, it's helpful to look at crime stats in context:
From 1980 to 2008, at least 4,685 people have perished in 965 reported incidents of mass murder involving at least four fatalities committed during the same incident. Multiple homicides involving at least two victims took 44,163 lives in 19,568 incidents.
That's an annual average of about 163. In 2012, there were 151 victims of mass murder in the U.S.
That's actually lower than average.
Here's another helpful article...mass murders represent only about 1% of all homicides. In spite of the horrifying nature of the mass murders in 2012, they have remained rare.
Mass killings occur in USA once every two weeks
Personally, I'm not a fan of overreacting, and I don't believe we should be making major changes because of Newtown.
But, that's just me. YMMV.
Last edited: