WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP PUBLIC MASS SHOOTINGS?

To see if there are any public policies that reduce the carnage of
public mass shootings, researchers at the University of Chicago compiled
data on all multiple-victim public shootings
that occurred in the United States from 1977 to 1999.

These were incidents in which at least two people were killed or injured
in a public place, excluding gang wars or shootings during another
crime, such as robbery.

o The United States averaged more than 20 such shootings annually,
with an average of 1.5 people killed and 2.5 wounded per incident.

o The researchers examined the effects of different gun laws, such as
waiting periods, as well the frequency and level of punishment, on the
occurrence of these tragedies.

o They found no consistent deterrent effect from higher arrest and
conviction rates, prison sentences or the death penalty — in fact, the
perpetrators are usually killed in the attack or commit suicide.

o To be effective, policies must deal with what motivates these
criminals, which is to kill and injure as many people as possible.

Some appear to do it for the publicity, which is itself related to the
amount of harm they inflict. Thus the best way to stop these attacks is
to enact policies that can limit the carnage.

The only policy they found that effectively accomplishes this is the
passage of right-to-carry laws. Some 32 states now give adults the right
to carry concealed handguns as long as they do
not have a criminal record or a history of significant mental illness.

o When states passed such laws during the 23 years studied, the number
of multiple-victim public shootings declined by a dramatic 67 percent.

o Deaths and injuries from these shootings fell on average by 78
percent.

Source: John R. Lott Jr., “What we can do after Wakefield?” Boston
Globe, December 28, 2000.

For text
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/363/oped/What_we_can_do_after_Wakefield+.shtm

For more on Right to Carry laws
http://www.ncpa.org/pi/crime/crime51.html