A recent report released by the FBI has found that mass shootings increased from 2000 to 2013.
The report looked at what is known in law enforcement as active shooter events, defined as “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.” The study counted 160 active shooter events during the 14-year period in question, with an average of 6.4 incidents per year for the first seven years, and an average of 16.4 per year over the course of the latter seven. 2010 saw the highest number of events during the period under consideration, with 26 active shooter events.
A total of 486 people were killed in active shooter events between 2000 and 2013, with an additional 557 being wounded, resulting in a total of 1,043 casualties. Seventy percent of active shooter events occurred in either a commercial or educational environment, and 60 percent were over by the time the police arrived. In the 64 incidents where the duration of the event was known, 44 ended within five minutes and 23 ended within two.
The report notes that even in those instances where law enforcement was already present or able torespond quickly, civilians were still often left in a position to make life-and-death decisions, and recommends that civilians receive training in how to respond to such events. In 21 of the incidents in question, the event ended when unarmed citizens managed to restrain the shooter.
ralejandro@afro.com
