Short Wave What Research Says About Mass Shootings
Jun 1, 2022
Nell Greenfield-Boyce, an NPR science correspondent specializing in gun violence research, dives into the pressing issue of mass shootings in the U.S. She highlights how much more research funding is needed to tackle this public health crisis. Nell discusses the surprising effectiveness of policies like gun licensing and magazine capacity bans in reducing fatalities. She also explores the overlooked impact of age restrictions and the urgent need for better understanding of gun violence's broader implications, especially among youth.
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Underfunding of Gun Violence Research
- Gun violence research is disproportionately underfunded, given its impact.
- This is partly due to political factors influencing funding decisions.
Mass Shootings as a Subset of Gun Violence
- Mass shootings, while horrific, represent a small fraction of total gun deaths.
- Researchers often prioritize other types of gun violence, such as suicide.
Effective Gun Laws
- Research suggests some gun laws may be more effective in preventing mass shootings.
- These often differ from the policies typically discussed after such events.