Mass shootings not increasing, experts say

[Lurks Often]

From the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-mass-shootings-common-20121218,0,6511082.story

I am not trying to minimize these tragedies and Sandy Hook was especially horrifying, but is it because the media coverage of these mass shootings is so heavy and hard to avoid that we feel (apparently inaccurately) that there are more and more of them each year?

[sadbear]

1. Even if true, this changes nothing.

One mass shooting is one too many.

[Paladin]

2. That "It's All The Media's Fault" Meme Is Getting Really Tiresome.

Peddle it over at Free Republic, where it will be appreciated....

[smiley]

4. it's appreciated here just fine

Media is huge part of the problem. Along with many other factors. Saying it's just about guns and that guns need to go. That is what gets tiresome.

[bongbong]

7. LOL

> Saying it's just about guns and that guns need to go.

Yeah, look at how many mass shootings there are in countries with strong gun control.

Wait ....

[Lurks Often]

8. Then explain how two different researchers came up similar results:

James Fox from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and Grant Duwe who works for the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

Do you have any reputable sources to disprove their findings?

[Hoyt]

3. Sounds to me we should have done something long ago . . . . . . to stop the NRA types.

[LeftInTX]

5. According to the article, it depends

snip from La Times article:

According to a running tally by Mother Jones magazine, whose counts slightly differ -- the magazine excluded robberies and gang violence, to some criticism, and limited the tally to public attacks -- 2012 has been the deadliest year for mass shootings since 1982 by far, with almost 80 dead.

Robberies and gang violence excluded:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/mass-shootings-investigation

[Lurks Often]

11. Granted

However the difference between robberies & gang violence and a mass shootings is the underlying motivation.

Robberies & gang violence are usually driven by social and economic pressures, while mass shootings seem to all be driven by psychological motivations of a disturbed mind.

[barbtries]

6. i find that very hard to believe. nt

[Lurks Often]

9. Why?

Do you not believe to because it does not fit in with your perception of the frequency of these events or do you have reputable studies to disprove their findings?

[L0oniX]

10. ***

[Lurks Often]

12. Yup

and

[farminator3000]

13. "Deadly count: US averages 20 mass shootings every year"

http://rt.com/usa/news/mass-year-people-massacre-710/

maybe there are the same amount, but they are nastier and more people die because of assault weapons flooding the market?

maybe the fact that they happen at all sucks, to most people?