Mass shootings : media, myths, and realities

Summary: When a mass shooting happens, the media is flooded with headlines and breaking information about the shooters, victims, and acts themselves. What is notably absent are any concrete details to inform news consumers how prevalent these mass shootings really are (or are not, when considering crime statistics as a whole), what are legitimate causes for concern, and how likely an individual is to be involved in such an incident. Instead, these events often are used as catalysts for conversations about larger issues such as gun control and mental health care reform. What critical points are we missing when the media focuses on only what "people want to hear"? This book focuses on the myths purported about these unfortunate events, their victims, and their perpetrators through typical U.S. media coverage as well as evidence-based facts to contradict such narratives. The authors pay primary attention to contemporary shootings in the United States but also discuss events dating back to the 1700's and those occurring internationally. The accessible writing enables readers to gain a more in-depth understanding of the context of mass shootings in the United States and the resulting responses and policies.