Are America’s public mass shooters unique? A comparative analysis of offenders in the United States and other countries

ABSTRACT

Public mass shooters are often assumed to be an exceptionally American problem, but little is known about what proportion of global offenders attack in the United States, or how America’s offenders compare to those in other countries. The present study offers the first quantitative analysis of all known offenders from 1966 to 2012 who attacked anywhere on the globe and killed a minimum of four victims. The results suggest that public mass shooters in the United States are significantly more likely to arm themselves with multiple weapons and attack at school and workplace settings, while offenders from other countries are more likely to strike at military sites. These differences may be partially attributable to America’s national gun culture and its particular set of social strains.

KEYWORDS:

• Public mass shooters
• school shooters
• workplace shooters
• strain theory
• gun culture

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank colleagues Lesley Reid, Matt Dolliver, and Diana Dolliver for their helpful input.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Adam Lankford

Adam Lankford is an associate professor of criminal justice at The University of Alabama. He is the author of two books and many peer-reviewed journal articles. His findings have been featured by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, BBC World News, and many other national and international outlets.