Dr. John Lott, founder of the Crime Prevention Research Center. (Photo: OAN)
An updated study from the Crime Prevention Research Center has found that, contrary to former President Barack Obama and the rest of the mainstream media, mass public shootings occur at much higher rates in countries outside the U.S. and these rates have been increasing in recent years.
“One of the most frequent claims we hear in the gun control debate is that the United States is somehow unique in terms of mass public shootings,” Dr. John Lott, founder of the CPRC, told One America News Network. “But rather than being above the world average, we’re dramatically below the world average.”
The study found that while the United States makes up about 4.6 percent of the world’s population, the U.S. makes up less than 1.15 percent of the mass public shooters, 1.49 percent of their murders, and 2.20 percent of their attacks. Out of the 97 countries where the CPRC identified mass public shootings occurring, the United States ranks 64th in the per capita frequency of these attacks and 65th in the murder rate.
SEE ALSO: Obama-Era Study Refuted, US Accounts for Less than 3% of ‘Mass Shootings’
The countries that rank higher than the U.S. aren’t just those that exist in war-torn, “non-advanced” regions, to use President Obama’s term. The study found that Norway, Finland, France, Switzerland, and Russia all have at least 25 percent higher per capita murder rates from mass public shootings than the US.
In total, over the 18 years from 1998 to 2015, the CPRC found 2,354 attacks and at least 4,880 shooters outside the United States. Meanwhile, the U.S. accounted for only 53 attacks and 57 shooters.
Also contrary to the popular narrative, the frequency of mass public shootings in the rest of the world is rising at a much higher rate than in the U.S.
The CPRC study used the FBI’s definition of “mass public shootings,” which only accounts for massacres of four or more people that take place in commercial areas, schools and colleges, open spaces, government properties, houses of worship, and healthcare facilities. The definition excludes shootings that resulted from gang or drug violence, occurred in the commission of another ongoing crime such as robbery, or arose primarily from self-defense.
The University of Maryland Global Terrorism Database (GTD) provided the primary source for the study. Researchers used Nexis and web searches to confirm any of the incidents on the GTD that met the criteria for mass public shooting. The CPRC team also found many incidents using Nexis and web searches that weren’t listed in the GTD.
Click here to download the complete study.
Not many shootings in Switzerland
But then every able bodied has there military rifle and gear at home after basic training.
This includes fully automatic weapons .
On a side note it’s a god given right for every living being to defend its life by any means
It seems the only “facts” and “reason” that the Anti-Gun crowd will accept are those that support their already decided opinion.
These are indeed the “Social Democrats” history reminds us of:
“Social democracy is objectively the moderate wing of fascism…
These organizations [i.e. Fascism and social democracy] are not antipodes, they are twins.”
— Joseph Stalin
The high numbers of public shootings in the study are a result of including such countries as Afghanistan, Iraq, Rwanda and others like it. Try a more logical comparison that focusses on the western industrialized countries and the results are far different – putting the US in the lead for public as well as shooting in general. A very biased study calculated to enhance a desired pre-determined outcome – in my opinion
From the article: “The countries that rank higher than the U.S. aren’t just those that exist in war-torn, “non-advanced” regions, to use President Obama’s term. The study found that Norway, Finland, France, Switzerland, and Russia all have at least 25 percent higher per capita murder rates from mass public shootings than the US.”
Norway, Finland, France, and Switzerland… kind of refutes your blather. Please Jim, show us your research countering the claims from the article. We’re waiting…
You talk about bias, but demonstrate such blind hypocrisy that you prove yourself untrustworthy, and demonstrate the value of your “opinion”.
Oh, so you mean like the democommies do on the daily?
Have you ever actually been to Baghdad? I’m guessing by your comment probably not.
For one who actually has been, I believe it’s a fair comparison. Not only because these countries do have well developed cities, but also because it shows how better off we actually are with our freedoms intact. For example, in Iraq, you can own 1 rifle to defend your house. Yet you run the risk of having your children kidnapped by isis fighters or other terrorist cells and used to blackmail you into performing a suicide bombing. In some of these other countries, you can’t even own something that could be considered a weapon, and people die all the time because they can’t defend themselves or their families. In all these countries, the bad guys with guns rule the land. They don’t in the states, because we have a semi decent chance of being able to fight back. So yes, mass shootings occur less in the states, because we make our criminal element think twice. Meaning only the sickest of bastards make the attempt.
In other words…
Your argument is invalid. Have a nice day.
Dr. Lott’s work is thorough, and more importantly, well documented. Demonstrated by the research “The CPRC team also found many incidents using Nexis and web searches that weren’t listed in the GTD”, that was compiled by the University of Maryland.
Sorry, Sparke. If you want to be taken seriously, publish your methods, and FULL results, subject to peer review, unlike those on the other side of the argument.
Um, you do know the founder of the Crime Prevention Research Center is John Richard Lott the political commentator and gun rights advocate. He has authored books such as More Guns, The Bias Against Guns, and Freedomnomics. He is best known as an advocate in the gun rights debate, particularly his arguments against restrictions on owning and carrying guns. I’m sure his center has no bias. Just saying.
Oh sure, use logic, facts and reason to make your point, that won’t work!
It never does. LOL
yep n that idiots logic is why there will never be civil conversation or debate in this country!! those idiots don’t understand and won’t accept ‘FACTS’ and research.