Written by Ambika Vartak and Edited by Amy Huynh
Within the year of 2018, there have been 314 mass shootings [1]. With the increased prevalence of mass shootings, it is safe to say that no one is safe from the dangers of gun violence no matter what setting he or she is in. Mass shootings, specifically, are defined as incidents in which the gunman “shoots or kills four or more people in the same general time and location” [2]. The federal government currently has been quite divided on how to approach the issue of gun control, but it is equally important to also consider the public health perspective on this issue because mass shootings affect the overall health of society.
Striving to promote gun violence prevention, public health scientists aim to research how certain risk factors affect the onset of a mass shooting. First and foremost, on an individual level, there is a strong association between gun ownership and gun-related deaths [3]. On a population level, the “contagion effect” can be seen, which refers to when one murder increases the likelihood of a similar event of gun-related violence occurring in the near future [3]. The possession of a gun, therefore, implies a huge risk factor and limiting its exposure or usage may be the first step in reducing gun violence and mass shootings. On a macro level, media coverage of mass shootings also plays a huge role in the mental health of children and adolescents, thus contributing to posttraumatic stress in those who have witnessed a school shooting event [3]. Upon analysis of a few of these risk factors, there is huge scope for public health on the policy and treatment level of gun violence in terms of communication.
Public health practitioners could cross-communicate with the federal government to create stronger gun laws while acting as the first responders to those who are distressed by exposure to a mass shooting. Several conservative politicians have expressed that impaired mental health, rather than guns, is the primary cause of mass shootings. However, closer examination of gun violence reveals that this belief is not based on factual evidence. A statistic published in The American Journal of Public Health showed that less than 3-5% of gun-violence cases related to crime are committed by those who have a severe mental illness [4]. Based on this statistic, mental health and gun violence may not hold a significant statistical correlation with each other as many conservative politicians claim. Public health researchers also note that laws and policies that facilitate gun access more strongly correlate with gun violence than cases of mental illness do [4]. As we live in such politically divisive times, politicians and common citizens have extremely entrenched opinions about this issue; however, increased policy and resistance toward large gun lobby groups such as the NRA is the key to stopping gun violence.
Despite the back and forth politics around this issue, community-based organizations are doing their part to raise awareness about the prevalence of mass shootings and gun violence in society. For example, the Consortium for Affordable Medical Technologies (CAMTech) is an organization that recently launched a hackathon to provide a public health perspective on gun violence by brainstorming innovative ideas on gun safety, community resilience, and policy change [5]. The event included speakers from various professions such as law enforcement and public policy. Another example of crucial community work can be in the form of activism. For instance, the voices of the Parkland students demonstrated a consistent call for action, which was highly broadcasted on social media. The way in which they fiercely confronted the issue demonstrates the power of social media, but, more importantly, calls out the need for dialogue in both political and academic areas [5]. Therefore, community work and activism provide a broader scope for change, which will impact the public health of future generations.
While the solution to gun-control is not an easy path, it is absolutely necessary considering how many mass shootings happen per year. Diverting more resources to stringent gun policy rather than to mental health will lead to more immediate impacts and will help ensure the public health of our country and its citizens.
References:
- Jeffrey, Courtland. “Mass Shootings in the U.S.: When, Where They Have Occurred in 2018.” KNXV, 20 Nov. 2018, http://www.abc15.com/news/data/mass-shootings-in-the-us-when-where-they-have-occurred-in-2018
- Willingham, A.J., and Saeed Ahmed. “Mass Shootings in America Are a Serious Problem and These 9 Charts Show Just Why.” CNN, Cable News Network, 6 Nov. 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/13/health/mass-shootings-in-america-in-charts-and-graphs-trnd/index.html
- Lin, P., Fei, L., Barzman, D., Hossain, M. (2018). What have we learned from the time trend of mass shootings in the U.S.? Plos One, 13. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0204722
- Metzl, J. M., Macleish, K. T. (2015). Mental Illness, Mass Shootings, and the Politics of American Firearms. American Journal of Public Health, 105: 240-249. doi:10.2105/ajph.2014.302242
- Leiner, M., Vega, I. D., Johansson, B. (2018). Deadly Mass Shootings, Mental Health, and Policies and Regulations: What We Are Obligated to Do! Frontiers in Pediatrics, 6. doi:10.3389/fped.2018.00099