MOSCOW, October 16 (RIA Novosti) - Public mass shootings in the United States have been on the rise since 2011, Harvard research based on mass shootings data from Mother Jones, a nonprofit investigative news organization, has revealed.
"According to our statistical analysis of more than three decades of data, in 2011 the United States entered a new period in which mass shootings are occurring more frequently," scholars from the Harvard School of Public Health said.
According to the Harvard data analysis, published online on Wednesday, a public mass shooting occurred on average every 172 days since 1982 in the United States and shifted in September 6, 2011 when data revealed some 14 public mass shootings occurred less than every 172 days. Additional data supporting claims that shootings have increased since 2011, state that mass shootings recorded within the first 29 years of Mother Jones' investigation occurred every 200 days on average while in the subsequent three-year phase occurred every 64 days on average.
The results of the Harvard study meanwhile contrast from claims by Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox who says the number of mass shootings in the country have remained steady.
The difference of opinion and statistical findings between Harvard and Fox is due to the definition of mass shootings. While Harvard considers mass shootings a public incident in which the shooter kills four people who are often unrelated or unknown to him, Fox has included both public and private homicides in which four or more people are murdered. Harvard claims proper assessment of the rate of public mass shootings requires the exclusion of mass killings that are qualitatively distinct, like those taking place in private homes.
Harvard's findings also agree with studies carried out by the FBI who used a similar method and definition of mass shootings. Results of both studies reinforce the claim that public mass shootings are on the rise.
Mother Jones states that the reason for the increase is still unknown however rules out social and cultural factors as well as mental illness.
