"There is no pattern, there is no increase," says criminologist James Allen Fox of Boston's Northeastern University, who has been studying the subject since the 1980s, spurred by a rash of mass shootings in post offices.

Grant Duwe, a criminologist with the Minnesota Department of Corrections who has written a history of mass murders in America, said that while mass shootings rose between the 1960s and the 1990s, they actually dropped in the 2000s. And mass killings actually reached their peak in 1929, according to his data. He estimates that there were 32 in the 1980s, 42 in the 1990s and 26 in the first decade of the century.

Chances of being killed in a mass shooting, he says, are probably no greater than being struck by lightning.

Still, he understands the public perception - and extensive media coverage - when mass shootings occur in places like malls and schools. "There is this feeling that could have been me. It makes it so much more frightening."

-----------

It was a tragedy, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

However, it seems that the sky is not falling, no matter what our resident naysayers spout. Our mass media makes it seem so much worse now, eh?

In article ,
says...

"There is no pattern, there is no increase," says criminologist James Allen Fox of Boston's Northeastern University, who has been studying the subject since the 1980s, spurred by a rash of mass shootings in post offices.

Grant Duwe, a criminologist with the Minnesota Department of Corrections who has written a history of mass murders in America, said that while mass shootings rose between the 1960s and the 1990s, they actually dropped in the 2000s. And mass killings actually reached their peak in 1929, according to his data. He estimates that there were 32 in the 1980s, 42 in the 1990s and 26 in the first decade of the century.

Chances of being killed in a mass shooting, he says, are probably no greater than being struck by lightning.

Still, he understands the public perception - and extensive media coverage - when mass shootings occur in places like malls and schools. "There is this feeling that could have been me. It makes it so much more frightening."

-----------

It was a tragedy, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

However, it seems that the sky is not falling, no matter what our resident naysayers spout. Our mass media makes it seem so much worse now, eh?

Facts are facts.

On 12/16/12 8:33 AM, wrote:
On Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:41:41 -0800 (PST), wrote:

"There is no pattern, there is no increase," says criminologist James Allen Fox of Boston's Northeastern University, who has been studying the subject since the 1980s, spurred by a rash of mass shootings in post offices.

Grant Duwe, a criminologist with the Minnesota Department of Corrections who has written a history of mass murders in America, said that while mass shootings rose between the 1960s and the 1990s, they actually dropped in the 2000s. And mass killings actually reached their peak in 1929, according to his data. He estimates that there were 32 in the 1980s, 42 in the 1990s and 26 in the first decade of the century.

Chances of being killed in a mass shooting, he says, are probably no greater than being struck by lightning.

Still, he understands the public perception - and extensive media coverage - when mass shootings occur in places like malls and schools. "There is this feeling that could have been me. It makes it so much more frightening."

-----------

It was a tragedy, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

However, it seems that the sky is not falling, no matter what our resident naysayers spout. Our mass media makes it seem so much worse now, eh?

Witness the brutal, knife, hatchet, and machete attacks on children in
China.

Bottom line is that children (and others) need protection wherever and
whenever they are vulnerable. Armed school resource officers,
teachers, and administrators would have made this tragedy much less
sever. You will never prevent attacks, but you can make them more of a
suicide than a murder.



Do you have any evidence that demonstrates that arming "school resource
officers, teachers and administrators" would make these tragedies less
severe? I don't mean the specific tragedy in Newtown, but these sorts of
tragedies generally.

I recall reading that there was an armed and trained officer on the
premises during the Columbine tragedy. He was no help. In fact, there
were some reports he fled the scene. Handing out firearms to teachers
and principals is not a solution when you really think about it. How
many of them, even if they could shoot safely, would have what it takes
to kill another human. These are sensitive people, and they're not
trained to handle that job.

I read that we have about 600,000 trained police officers in this
country and about 150,000 schools. There aren't enough police to patrol
the schools and even if one officer were assigned to every school, most
schools are large structures, and one officer wouldn't be enough.

A partial answer may be to hire more trained therapists to work in our
school system, along with more full-time school nurses. Most of our
school shootings are perpetrated by students in those schools. Teachers
are the frontline of defense...they often are the first to notice that
certain students are "off." If those teachers could get the "off" kids
in to be evaluated by an on-staff professional, some help could be
arranged for these troubled kids that become shooters. But, for the most
part, we don't do that. The Newtown school had a staff psychologist,
which seems rare. She was one of the victims. Of course, the shooter
wasn't a student at the school anyway.

I don't see where further arming the populace is going to do anything to
chill our violent culture.

In article ,
says...

I don't see where further arming the populace is going to do anything to
chill our violent culture.

The data doesn't support your claim.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ship-up-crime-
down/

On 12/16/2012 8:33 AM, wrote:
On Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:41:41 -0800 (PST), wrote:

"There is no pattern, there is no increase," says criminologist James Allen Fox of Boston's Northeastern University, who has been studying the subject since the 1980s, spurred by a rash of mass shootings in post offices.

Grant Duwe, a criminologist with the Minnesota Department of Corrections who has written a history of mass murders in America, said that while mass shootings rose between the 1960s and the 1990s, they actually dropped in the 2000s. And mass killings actually reached their peak in 1929, according to his data. He estimates that there were 32 in the 1980s, 42 in the 1990s and 26 in the first decade of the century.

Chances of being killed in a mass shooting, he says, are probably no greater than being struck by lightning.

Still, he understands the public perception - and extensive media coverage - when mass shootings occur in places like malls and schools. "There is this feeling that could have been me. It makes it so much more frightening."

-----------

It was a tragedy, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

However, it seems that the sky is not falling, no matter what our resident naysayers spout. Our mass media makes it seem so much worse now, eh?

Witness the brutal, knife, hatchet, and machete attacks on children in
China.

Bottom line is that children (and others) need protection wherever and
whenever they are vulnerable. Armed school resource officers,
teachers, and administrators would have made this tragedy much less
sever. You will never prevent attacks, but you can make them more of a
suicide than a murder.

Love the clever way you used the word sever.

On 12/16/2012 8:51 AM, ESAD wrote:
On 12/16/12 8:33 AM, wrote:
On Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:41:41 -0800 (PST), wrote:

"There is no pattern, there is no increase," says criminologist James
Allen Fox of Boston's Northeastern University, who has been studying
the subject since the 1980s, spurred by a rash of mass shootings in
post offices.

Grant Duwe, a criminologist with the Minnesota Department of
Corrections who has written a history of mass murders in America,
said that while mass shootings rose between the 1960s and the 1990s,
they actually dropped in the 2000s. And mass killings actually
reached their peak in 1929, according to his data. He estimates that
there were 32 in the 1980s, 42 in the 1990s and 26 in the first
decade of the century.

Chances of being killed in a mass shooting, he says, are probably no
greater than being struck by lightning.

Still, he understands the public perception - and extensive media
coverage - when mass shootings occur in places like malls and
schools. "There is this feeling that could have been me. It makes it
so much more frightening."

-----------

It was a tragedy, and our hearts go out to the victims and their
families.

However, it seems that the sky is not falling, no matter what our
resident naysayers spout. Our mass media makes it seem so much worse
now, eh?

Witness the brutal, knife, hatchet, and machete attacks on children in
China.

Bottom line is that children (and others) need protection wherever and
whenever they are vulnerable. Armed school resource officers,
teachers, and administrators would have made this tragedy much less
sever. You will never prevent attacks, but you can make them more of a
suicide than a murder.



Do you have any evidence that demonstrates that arming "school resource
officers, teachers and administrators" would make these tragedies less
severe? I don't mean the specific tragedy in Newtown, but these sorts of
tragedies generally.

I recall reading that there was an armed and trained officer on the
premises during the Columbine tragedy. He was no help. In fact, there
were some reports he fled the scene. Handing out firearms to teachers
and principals is not a solution when you really think about it. How
many of them, even if they could shoot safely, would have what it takes
to kill another human. These are sensitive people, and they're not
trained to handle that job.

I read that we have about 600,000 trained police officers in this
country and about 150,000 schools. There aren't enough police to patrol
the schools and even if one officer were assigned to every school, most
schools are large structures, and one officer wouldn't be enough.

A partial answer may be to hire more trained therapists to work in our
school system, along with more full-time school nurses. Most of our
school shootings are perpetrated by students in those schools. Teachers
are the frontline of defense...they often are the first to notice that
certain students are "off." If those teachers could get the "off" kids
in to be evaluated by an on-staff professional, some help could be
arranged for these troubled kids that become shooters. But, for the most
part, we don't do that. The Newtown school had a staff psychologist,
which seems rare. She was one of the victims. Of course, the shooter
wasn't a student at the school anyway.

I don't see where further arming the populace is going to do anything to
chill our violent culture.



So why did you feel the need to secure carry permits in 3 states?

On 12/16/2012 9:13 AM, BAR wrote:
In article ,
says...

I don't see where further arming the populace is going to do anything to
chill our violent culture.

The data doesn't support your claim.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ship-up-crime-
down/


Remember, harry already has his guns...

In article ,
says...

In article ,
says...

I don't see where further arming the populace is going to do anything to
chill our violent culture.

The data doesn't support your claim.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ship-up-crime-
down/

Uh oh, Meyer can't handle that URL because it's wrapped and he can't cut
and paste.

In article ,
says...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ship-up-crime-
down/


Yeah, that's why the crime in Switzerland is so horrible because of the
very strict gun control laws.... Oh, wait, there crime rate is actually
VERY low...

On 12/16/12 10:30 AM, JustWait wrote:
On 12/16/2012 9:13 AM, BAR wrote:
In article ,
says...

I don't see where further arming the populace is going to do anything to
chill our violent culture.

The data doesn't support your claim.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ship-up-crime-
down/


Remember, harry already has his guns...

The moron cites a story published in the right-wing WashTimes with views
from the NRA. Convincing.