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104 J.L. Pol'y & Globalization 56 (2020)
An Examination of Perceived Factors of Influencing Mass Killings in the United States of America

handle is hein.journals/jawpglob104 and id is 57 raw text is: ISSN 2224-3240 (Paper) ISSN 2224-3259 (Online) Vol.104, 2020 nSTE An Examination of Perceived Factors of Influencing Mass Killings in the United States of America Stephone K. Addison Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, LA. Abstract The criminal justice system in USA has undergone through series of attack from the citizens with specific references from the numerous incidences of crime cases due to mass killing, and legalization of gun holding policies. According to Folman, Aronsen, and Pan (2018), in 2018 alone, 12 reported mass shootings in the U.S. Despite gun laws that have been enacted in varying degrees from each state across the country, mass shootings and/or killings is a glaring problem that continues to divide America. The battle over gun control and gun rights increases seemingly after each incident of mass shooting. There are many factors discussed by educators, politicians, legal scholars and laypersons alike regarding the cause of mass shootings but little attention has been paid to the issue. This study investigates and examine the relationship between the number mass killings and race, gender, political party affiliation, use of assault weapons and mental illness. This research uses linear regression, correlation, and secondary sources of data covering the periods between 2016 - 2018. The study finds a strong positive relationship between mass killings and race. However, a statistically significant relationship to the number of mass killings and political party affiliation is lacking. Also lacking is a statistically significant relationship between mass killings and mental illness. Perhaps the latter is due to failure or inability to appropriately diagnose those who engage in mass shootings and/or killings as being mentally ill. Therefore, the study recommends that the mental health agencies and professionals should identify ways to communicate to active patients, their family members and the community-at-large on proper recognition of signs of mental illness and appropriate means to report such signs in order to minimize crime in USA. Keywords: Race, Politics, Mass Killing, Correlation, Political Party, Crime and Justice System DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/104-08 Publication date: December 31st 2020 INTRODUCTION In February 2018, an upstate New York member of Congress, Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-Utica, made national headlines when she suggested many mass shooters were Democrats (Clark & Specht, 2018). On a radio show, Representative Tenney made a statement that many of the people that commit the mass murders end up being Democrats. The statement made by Rep. Tenney follows a growing concern for what appears to be a rise in mass shootings and/or mass killings in the U.S. Several factors have been posited regarding the reason for this phenomenon. Those factors include easy access to guns, unemployment, mental health, etc. Today's media, albeit the mainstream news (print or television), social media, etcetera, appears to be inundated with reports regarding incidents of gun violence. Recent reports such as the Texas church shooting, Las Vegas concert shooting, Orlando night club shooting, and Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in 2012 (Cummings and Janson, 2017), suggest an uptick in fatalities resulting from the use of assault rifles. From the period of 1993 - 2011, firearm (gun) violence account for about 70% of all homicides in the United States (Planty and Truman, 2013). From 2009-2016 in the U.S., there have been 156 mass shootings-incidents in which four or more people were shot and killed, not including the shooter (Mass Shootings in the United States: 2009 - 2016, 2017). Recently however, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under auspices of the Department of Justice began collecting data and compiled into the Active Shooter Incidents Report. In the year 2016 - 2017 twenty (20) of the fifty (50) Active Shooter Incidents (ASI) met the criteria cited in the federal definition of mass killings, that is, three or more killings in a single incident. (Justice, 2018). Also, ASI took place various states across the country (see Figure 1 for more details). While to some, the foregoing statistics may appear alarming, there still remains to be a continuing debate in the U.S. regarding control laws and policy. Firearms or guns have been a part of the fabric of American society from its inception. Also, while the debate goes on, gun violence by the way of mass killings appear to be steadily on the rise. This brings us to the focus of this research and that is: what is causing the behavior of mass killing? Thus, this research is designed to examine the correlation between mass killings and race, gender, political party affiliation, use of assault weapons and mental illness. The result of the study is intended to provide insight and guidance on ways of addressing and perhaps reducing the incidents of mass killings. Also, recommendations regarding future policy and practice relative to mass killings will be offered. 56 Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization wwwhy

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