By Andy Dahn
BLOOMINGTON – A shooting in San Bernardino, California that left 14 dead and 23 injured this week adds to the growing list of mass shootings around the world.
ISU politics professor and author Julie Webber said those behind the attacks seem to be interested in copying past shootings like Columbine High School and November’s attacks in Paris.
“Their goal is to try and perform the act and do as much damage as possible in that one single act,” Webber said. “It usually ends in suicide, whether by self inflicted suicide or in a shootout with police.”
While violent crime is an all-time low in the United States, Webber said non-stop coverage of mass shootings by major news networks may be contributing to public anxiety and fear.
“Turn off CNN, turn off MSNBC, turn off Fox News, because the coverage is 24 hours,” said Webber. “It leads to the illusion that you need to be watching all of this. I think that adds to the stress and anxiety that people feel.”
Webber said stricter gun laws are just one way that mass shootings can be prevented.
“We need something to deal with that issue,” Webber said. “But we also need to invest more in mental health and public mental health facilities, which have also been defunded over the past 20 years.”
Andy Dahn can be reached at andy.dahn@cumulus.com.
