In the past decade, no individual act of violence has killed more people in the United States than the mass shooting. This well-researched, forcefully argued book answers some of the most pressing questions facing our society: Why do people go on killing sprees? Are gun-free zones magnets for deadly rampages? What can we do to curb the carnage of this disturbing form of firearm violence?
Contrary to conventional wisdom, the author shows that gun possession often prods aggrieved, mentally unstable individuals to go on shooting sprees; these attacks largely occur in places where guns are not prohibited by law; and sensible gun-control measures like the federal Assault Weapons Ban-which helped drastically reduce rampage violence when it was in effect-are instrumental to keeping Americans safe from mass shootings in the future.
To stem gun massacres, the author proposes several original policy prescriptions, ranging from the enactment of sensible firearm safety reforms to an overhaul of how the justice system investigates potential active-shooter threats and prosecutes violent crimes. Calling attention to the growing problem of mass shootings,Rampage Nationdemonstrates that this unique form of gun violence is more than just a criminal justice offense or public health scourge. It is a threat to American security.
Mass shootings. An extremely polarizing topic that often has no single definitions used by any person or group discussing them. No single definition, very little hard data compiled together, and people on both sides of the debate who are unwilling to listen to any argument but their own. It's no wonder that very little honest and open conversation has been done. In "Rampage Nation", Louis Klarevas seeks to have that open and honest conversation, using data he painstakingly collected. Central to his conversation is his idea of the "trinity" - the three components put together that equal an act of violence, any of which - when removed - could prevent that act of violence.
Klarevas has written an *extremely* compelling book. Even though it is filled with charts and data, it is also extremely readable. In fact, in one spot after quite a few charts, he reverts to plain language for us non-"data wonks". I found the book fascinating, terrifying, and hopeful - almost in equal measure. Fascinating, for the information and the history given throughout, terrifying for the picture that emerges, and hopeful for the fact that he actually gives solid recommendations to help break the trinity.
This book should be recommended reading for everyone - and required reading for anyone of influence who weighs in on this debate. Maybe then the conversation could be less about "us vs. them" and more about working together to help us all.
