Here’s an interesting blog:
Just FYI: Mass Shootings Aren’t on the Rise and America Isn’t More Violent than Ever
by Andrew Kirell | 4:12 pm, June 11th, 2014 502
In light of the Las Vegas shootout this past weekend, along with the terrifying Isla Vista slayings earlier in June, New York magazine published a helpful reminder that despite the media hype, mass shootings are not on the rise and, no, America is not descending into some Mad Max-like, post-apocalyptic wasteland of violence.
Based on data from Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox, who has tracked mass-shooting incidents (4+ fatalities) from 1976 until two years ago (most recent FBI data available), NY mag’s “Science of Us” blog created this helpful graph:
Clearly no upward trend there. And as the Science of Us blog noted, the data wouldn’t change much if you defined “mass shootings” as 3+ fatalities instead. Additionally, Department of Education statistics show no upward trend in school shooting victims.
The question then becomes: Why does it feel like things are getting worse at an increasingly fast pace? The answer requires a bit of self-reflection from us in the media. Science of Us neatly summed up the answer: “Every incident immediately explodes onto the national stage and is then amplified a millionfold by social media.”
Source:http://www.mediaite.com/online/just-fyi-mass-shootings-arent-more-frequent-and-america-isnt-more-violent-than-ever/
Why? Because sharing a story about a mass shooting is more interesting than a pool drowning, a car accident, a stabbing, or any number than crimes.
It’s only news if it’s rare, a stabbing is common unless it’s a Slender Man-inspired murder. Other crimes appeal to our prurient interest, such as teachers sleeping with teenagers.
The good news is that social media is a double-edge sword, our enemies can use it but so can we.
A North Side man was taken to the Mahoning County jail after he told police he test-fired a gun in front of a New York Avenue home Tuesday evening to make sure it still works.
Police were called to Kensington Avenue near New York Avenue about 8:55 p.m. to check on a group of juveniles who purportedly were in the street causing trouble.
As officers were investigating that call, they heard a gunshot around the corner and drove up New York Avenue where they found 46-year-old Mack Hill standing in front of a home.
Reports said that when officers questioned him about the gunfire, he said he had fired a shot and was surprised he was in trouble. Reports said he asked officers: “I can’t just shoot once in the air? I just want to see if it [gun] works.”
Reports said there were at least 20 people outside at the time across the street, including several children. On the front porch of the home, police found a .38-caliber Detective Special revolver, 11 .38-caliber rounds and a .357-caliber round.
A records check showed the gun was not reported as stolen and that Hill has no criminal record that would prohibit him from owning a gun. He was charged with discharging a firearm in city limits and taken to the Mahoning County jail. Reports said the charge was upgraded from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony because of the number of people who were outside when Hill fired a shot.
As police were searching they found Markle D. Williams, 56, and asked if they could search him. He told officers he had a crack pipe, and after the pipe was found, he was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia and released, reports said.
– See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/jun/12/man-test-fires-gun-to-make-sure-it-still/#sthash.h5xJxMyG.dpuf
YOUNGSTOWN
A North Side man was taken to the Mahoning County jail after he told police he test-fired a gun in front of a New York Avenue home Tuesday evening to make sure it still works.
Police were called to Kensington Avenue near New York Avenue about 8:55 p.m. to check on a group of juveniles who purportedly were in the street causing trouble.
As officers were investigating that call, they heard a gunshot around the corner and drove up New York Avenue where they found 46-year-old Mack Hill standing in front of a home.
Reports said that when officers questioned him about the gunfire, he said he had fired a shot and was surprised he was in trouble. Reports said he asked officers: “I can’t just shoot once in the air? I just want to see if it [gun] works.”
Reports said there were at least 20 people outside at the time across the street, including several children. On the front porch of the home, police found a .38-caliber Detective Special revolver, 11 .38-caliber rounds and a .357-caliber round.
A records check showed the gun was not reported as stolen and that Hill has no criminal record that would prohibit him from owning a gun. He was charged with discharging a firearm in city limits and taken to the Mahoning County jail. Reports said the charge was upgraded from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony because of the number of people who were outside when Hill fired a shot.
As police were searching they found Markle D. Williams, 56, and asked if they could search him. He told officers he had a crack pipe, and after the pipe was found, he was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia and released, reports said.
– See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/jun/12/man-test-fires-gun-to-make-sure-it-still/#sthash.h5xJxMyG.dpuf
[…] Go read this article… […]