Opinion
Listen as we take a deep dive into a great scholarly article: Exploiting Mass Public Shootings By E. Gregory Wallace at Firearms Research Center.
Mass public shootings are heartbreaking events that claim innocent lives and leave entire communities shaken. But instead of addressing the complex causes of these tragedies, some media outlets and politicians rush to exploit these events, using fear to push an agenda that targets lawful gun owners. Let’s break down what’s really happening and why you deserve the full picture.
Manipulating Numbers to Fuel Fear
When the average person hears about “445 mass shootings this year,” it’s natural to feel alarmed. But that number, often reported by the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), doesn’t mean what it sounds like. The GVA defines a “mass shooting” as any event where four or more people are injured or killed, lumping together gang violence, domestic disputes, and even robberies.
Contrast that with databases like The Violence Project, which focus specifically on public shootings unrelated to criminal motives like gang activity or domestic violence. By this more focused definition, there have been only a handful of true mass public shootings this year, tragic as those are. The GVA’s inflated numbers mislead the public, creating a sense of chaos that’s weaponized to justify restrictive gun laws.
Click the link to read the whole article: Exposing the Gun-Control Playbook
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