Comparing the Global Rate of Mass Public Shootings to the U.S.’s and Changes Over time

Social Science Research Network ^ | November 22, 2018 | John R Lott Jr

[richardb72]

Please download a copy of this important new report:

Abstract

The U.S. is well below the world average in terms of the number of mass public shootings, and the global increase over time has been much bigger than for the United States.

Over the 18 years from 1998 to 2015, our list contains 2,354 attacks and at least 4,880 shooters outside the United States and 53 attacks and 57 shooters within our country. By our count, the US makes up less than 1.15% of the mass public shooters, 1.49% of their murders, and 2.20% of their attacks. All these are much less than the US’s 4.6% share of the world population. Attacks in the US are not only less frequent than other countries, but they are also much less deadly on average.

Out of the 97 countries where we have identified mass public shootings occurring, the United States ranks 64th in the per capita frequency of these attacks and 65th in the murder rate. Not only have these attacks been much more common outside the US, the US’s share of these attacks have declined over time. There has been a much bigger increase over time in the number and severity of mass shootings in the rest of the world compared to the US.

[rktman]

More gun laws =more shootings? I suggest we fall back to the 2nd as written and forego the parts where it says you must have “authorization” to carry.

[CGVet58]

bttt

[familyop]

Norway is big on gun control, and crazy Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 and injured 319.

[familyop]

The annual rate of homicides involving firearms in the U.S. is less than 1 per 29,000 people (320,000,000 / 11,000), and many of those homicides occurred in no-go neighborhoods.

[familyop]

Numbers from here (re. 11,000).

Think Progress Shocked U.S. Bans Romaine Lettuce, Not Firearms
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/11/24/think-progress-shocked-u-s-bans-romaine-lettuce-not-firearms/

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Thanks for the reply. I think the term “public mass shooting” injects confusion into the conversation. There is no guarantee that family or gang shootings will not occur in public. Furthermore, some violent crimes may have unknown or multiple motives.

[tx_eggman]

Humble, this thread has been harsh to you ... deleted by the Mod and then narses goes and calls you boring.

You're slipping

[Svartalfiar]

There is no guarantee that family or gang shootings will not occur in public.

Correct, but the main differentiator is the target. Family/gang shootings are primarily targeted at certain family members, or members of a rival gang. If you're not the target, you'll be an incidental casualty. The gunman won't be aiming for you. The mass public shooting is one where the gunman is shooting at just about anything he sees moving - being in the vicinity makes you a target. So your odds of getting shot at are much higher.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

The mass public shooting is one where the gunman is shooting at just about anything he sees moving

But why does the word "public" belong in a phrase that defines mass shootings that are neither family nor gang shootings? Wouldn't "targeting random victims" be more accurate than "public?"

[Svartalfiar]

But why does the word "public" belong in a phrase that defines mass shootings that are neither family nor gang shootings? Wouldn't "targeting random victims" be more accurate than "public?"

It kind of would, but remember, this wording came out back when you didn;t have liberals twisting 1/3 of the vocabulary to mean something different. By 'mass public shooting', they mean a shooting that targets the public at large. A gunman who isn't aiming for anyone specific, but just whomever shows up on his radar.

[Eleutheria5]

Oh. Thought you were with Humble.