Mass shooting contagion
[1] Academic study of this theory has grown in recent years due to the nature of mass shooting events, frequency of references to previous rampage shooters as inspiration and the acquisition of fame using violence, particularly in the United States.
[5] This theory suggests that the increased occurrence of global gun-related crime is linked to the role of mass media platforms in broadcasting and circulating content about this type of criminal behaviour, particularly through public dissemination of the active shooter's identity.
Attempts to reduce the increasing number of mass shooting related incidents have been made through the introduction of stricter gun laws, particularly access to firearms, and movements such as the 'Don't Name Them' campaign.
[4] Despite taking the fewest lives among all acts of homicide, the broadcasting of mass shootings yields the capacity to create widespread panic due to their occurrence in a public setting, approximate 24-hour or less time frame, and random selection of victims.
[13] A contemporary study conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that between 2016 and 2017, fifty active shooting incidents occurred in 21 states, with approximately 943 casualties (221 people murdered and 743 severely injured).
[4] The Columbine shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, expressed their desire for worldwide recognition in ‘basement tapes’ recorded prior to the mass homicide, stating that they aimed for “The most deaths in U.S. history…We’re hoping.
[1] The shooting of United States Representative Gabby Giffords in 2011 appeared on 19 front-page stories (21.3% of coverage), with the majority of news reports directly referencing the identity of the shooter, Jared Lee Loughner.
"[11] Although many media outlets published information about the mass shooting and identification of the offender, coverage focused primarily on debate surrounding reforming gun control laws within the United States.
[14] Despite the majority of media focus being oriented around gun laws, this type of stricter firearm-related legislation has yet to be enacted, instead indicating that the broadcasting of this shooting inspired the shooter of Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012.
[20] The "Don't Name Them" campaign is a movement founded by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Centre (ALERRT), that encourages news corporations to avoid coverage that focuses on a mass shooter's identity, motives, declared manifesto and history.
[4] Outlined by a 2019 report from the FBI's Behavioural Analysis unit, media coverage of mass shooting incidents "cements the legacies they seek to achieve" by providing global attention and fame.
[11] However, difficulties in keeping the identity of mass shooters completely confidential are acknowledged within this movement due to the abilities afforded by social media platforms to virally stream in real-time and circulate content instantly.
