Objective In this study, we analyzed the relationship between state firearm laws and the incidence and severity (i.e., number of victims) of mass public shootings in the United States during the period 1976-2018. Hypotheses We hypothesized that states requiring...
This chapter defines mass public shootings as incidents that occur in the absence of other criminal activity in which a gun was used to kill four or more victims at a public location. It traces the history of mass public shootings in the United States by examining 160...
Research Summary Mass shootings have been identified as a novel American crime problem. The term is merely a new name, however, for an older crime problem—mass murder. The social construction of the mass shooting and mass murder problems have both been driven by “mass...
Right-to-carry (RTC) laws mandate that concealed weapon permits be granted to qualified applicants. Such laws could reduce the number of mass public shootings as prospective shooters consider the possibility of encountering armed civilians. However, these laws might...