Report finds that 7% of Americans have been present at the scene of a mass shooting and 2% have been injured in one

Summary

A new study from the University of Colorado Boulder finds that 7% of U.S. adults have witnessed a mass shooting, and over 2% have been injured in one.

Researchers define mass shootings as incidents where four or more people are shot in public spaces. With nearly 5,000 such events since 2014, experts stress the need for public health strategies to address the psychological and physical impacts.

The study highlights how mass shootings are not isolated events but a widespread issue affecting millions of Americans.

  • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    1·
    14 days ago

    Respondents were asked: “Have you personally ever been physically present on the scene of a mass shooting in your lifetime?”

    Unfortunately, it’s a self-reported study. While there is a lot of math used in self-reporting to account for people who lie or misunderstand the question, the results likely aren’t reproducible.

    Self-reported studies can be helpful in some ways but they have deep limitations on accuracy as opposed to “feels.”

    Arguably, without mass surveillance and access to data from mass surveillance, there really isn’t another good way to find out who was in physical proximity to a mass shooting other than self-reporting.