One mass shooting per month in US since 2009

A new US study points to one mass shooting per month in the country since 2009, most of which did not involved the assault weapons some lawmakers are trying to ban in the proclaimed bid to halt the nation’s mass killing trend.

In the study, commissioned by Mayors Against Illegal Violence, researchers looked through the FBI database and press reports on every mass shooting since January 2009 and found, among other things, that there have been 43 mass shootings in 25 US states over the past four year, which amounts to almost one per month, The Washington Post reports Saturday.

The study notes that a mass shooting refers to shooting incidents in which at least four people were murdered by firearms.

The study further underlines, however, that mass shootings are only a small portion of the overall deaths in the US involving gun violence.

It points to the FBI’s 2010 figures showing that nearly 8,775 people were killed across the United States by the use of firearms, less than one percent of which were murdered in mass shooting incidents.

Contrary to common belief, the study further reveals that even in mass shooting incidents assault weapons were marginally used. It notes, however, that the cases in which assault rifles were used proved deadlier.

“Just 12 of the mass-shooting incidents, or 28 percent, involved assault weapons or high-capacity magazines – the very same guns that some members of Congress are now trying to ban. At the same time, mass shootings were a lot deadlier when assault weapons were used, with an average of 8.3 deaths, compared with 5.4 deaths on average for the rest.”

The study also indicates that in very few of the mass shooting incidents there were any evidence that a shooter was prohibited from purchasing firearms due mental-health concerns.

Furthermore, the study reflects that nearly one-third of the shooting incidents happened in so-called “gun-free zones.”

“Nineteen of the 43 incidents (44%) took place in private residences. Of the 23 incidents in public spaces, at least 9 took place where concealed guns could be lawfully carried. All told, no more than 14 of the shootings (33%) took place in public spaces that were so-called “gun-free zones.”

The study comes amid a heated gun-control debate in the United States, in which most American lawmakers urge ban of assault weapons and more background checks as the solution to the growing gun violence problem in the country.