With two well-publicized mass shootings happening last month, America yet again set to blaming the criminals’ violence on mental illness. Former presidents have also claimed over the decades that mental illness is the cause for all shocking violent acts. But research shows that actually, the mentally ill make up only 4% of ALL gun violence. So what do the other 96% of gun criminals have in common?

SOURCES:

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0017

How journalists cover mass shootings: Research to consider

https://theconversation.com/mass-shootings-arent-growing-more-common-and-evidence-contradicts-common-stereotypes-about-the-killers-121471

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/wife-calif-shooting-victim-believes-husband-targeted-article-1.2458790

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2019/08/05/is-mental-illness-causing-americas-mass-shootings-no-research-shows/?fbclid=IwAR3UkL6QKz0UcRPjf8_GgVTTFZFm6MfyQy0fLnhGTUK3KA-3eapAPk-_jAI&noredirect=on

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/03/23/2020-shootings/

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-03-23/why-mass-shootings-stopped-boulder-atlanta

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/dallas-police-ambush/protests-spawn-cities-across-u-s-over-police-shootings-black-n605686

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-claims-experts-mental-illness-mass-shootings/story?id=65101823

Many Mass Shooters Share A Common Bond: Male Grievance Culture

8chan Back Online, Even After Another Internet Company Cancels Its Service