Response to Mass Shootings

The gun violence archive, a statistical base for gun deaths, indicates that as of November 8, 2018 there were 307 mass shooting incidents in the United States. In 2017 the US saw a total of 346 mass shootings.

In response we see a clamor on TV of people calling for gun control and also for more treatment for mentally ill. However, there is about as many guns in this country as there are adults so even if we stop producing guns there would be an abundance of guns.

Secondly, mental illness is a very small factor as these events are planned and purposeful and calculated. These are skills that the mentally ill person does not have. In any event, because these events are planned, this means they can be prevented.

The signs that mass shooters give off before the event is called “leakage”.

Leakage is done by telling a third person what is going to happen or, their writings or, postings. When we can develop a comprehensive system of identification of the leakage signs, and they are there, we will go a long way to preventing these planned attacks. In the meantime, there are so many of these attacks occurring on a daily basis, it is sad to think that a whole TV channel could be devoted, to a mass shooting channel which would have enough data 24 hours a day seven days a week.

It is truly sad and also sad to see that when mass shootings occur you do not see many people in government, who can make a difference, stepping up to say what we can do to stop it.

What we see is reports on the sad facts of who got killed and who did the killing etc. etc...

Action is needed, and the quickest action, as I stated, is to help people identify the leakage.

— Ronald J. Coughlin, Ed.D, President, New Jersey Violence

Prevention Institute