I just read a story that stated security is being beefed up an extra step at the Academy Awards this year. Why? Because the rash of gun violence across the United States has everyone a little concerned that something like that could take place at the Academy Awards. Tension is high. People are scared. There are no easy answers. There isn’t one solution that will end the blood shed. Banning guns won’t work as criminals will still get them and then law abiding citizens will be left defenseless. Posting additional security everywhere something could possibly happen isn’t the answer. It would be incredibly expensive and might not actually save any lives. Mental health needs to be addressed. Gun control needs to be addressed. Gun free zones need to be addressed. Economic factors need to be addressed. Something needs to be done but until an honest, open and intelligent conversation about the above issues is able to be had, nothing will be done. It’s with that in mind, that I offer up the facts about the 10 most deadly mass shootings in US history.
Before I get into the list though, I want to take a moment to talk about what constitutes a mass shooting. Typically speaking, mass shooting is the act of shooting several people in one incident. That incident may take place at one location or several locations but the shootings must happen in quick succession. This basically means that the shooter must move on to a second location immediately after (or soon after) shooting one or more people at a first location. There usually isn’t a cooling down time when a person would return to their normal activities. In other words, a mass shooter will not shoot someone, return to work or school and then shoot someone else. That sort of crime would be considered the work of a serial killer if there are more than two victims.
Sometimes, a crime can fit into a number of classifications. For example, someone may commit an initial murder, return to their normal life, commit another murder and then commit as mass shooting. These types of incidents are rare. Usually when someone commits a mass shooting, their intention is to kill as many people as possible in the shortest possible time frame for whatever reason they’ve chosen to justify their actions. Mass shootings are usually an act of vengeance – a punishment for some wrong committed against the shooter or the shooter’s family. Other times, mass shootings are the result of some kind of mental break. In both of these instances, a return to normalcy after the initial crime is extremely unlikely.
10: The Aurora Theater Shooting
Dates: July 20, 2012
Locations: Aurora, Colorado
Perpetrators: James Holmes (allegedly, awaiting trial)
Killed: 12
Injured: 28
Weapons Used: Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifle, Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun, two Glock 22 handguns, teargas grenade
09: Columbine High School Shooting
Dates: April 20, 1999
Locations: Littleton, Colorado
Perpetrators: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Killed: 15 (including Harris and Klebold)
Injured: 21
Weapons Used: Intratec TEC-DC9, Hi-Point 995 Carbine, Savage 67-H pump-action shotgun, Stevens 311D double barrelled sawed-off shotgun, 4 knives, various explosives
08: The Walk of Death
Dates: September 6, 1949
Locations: Camden, New Jersey
Perpetrators: Howard Unruh
Killed: 13 (including 3 children)
Injured: 3
Weapons Used: Luger PO8 pistol
07: The Fort Hood Shootings
Dates: November 5, 2009
Locations: Fort Hood, Texas
Perpetrators: Nidal Malik Hasan
Killed: 13
Injured: 30 (including Hasan)
Weapons Used: FN Five-seven pistol, Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver
06: Oklahoma Post Office Massacre
Dates: August 20, 1986
Locations: Edmond, Oklahoma
Perpetrators: Patrick Sherrill
Killed: 14 (including Sherrill)
Injured: 6
Weapons Used: Two .45 ACP Remington M1911 semi-automatic pistols, .22 caliber Ruger semi-automatic pistol
05: The University of Texas Massacre
Dates: August 1, 1966
Locations: Austin, Texas (residence and the University of Texas located in Austin)
Perpetrators: Charles Whitman
Killed: 16 (including Whitman)
Injured: 32
Weapons Used: Machete, Remington 700 ADL, Universal M1 Carbine, .35 caliber Remington M 141, 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun, .357 magnum Smith & Wesson M19, 9mm Luger PO8, .25 ACP Galesi-Brescia
04: Sandy Hook Massacre
Dates: December 14, 2012
Locations: Newtown, Connecticut (residential location and Sandy Hook Elementary School)
Perpetrators: Adam Lanza
Killed: 28 (including Lanza)
Injured: 2
Weapons Used: .223 caliber Bushmaster XM15-E2S semi-automatic rifle, 10mm Glock, 9mm SIG SauerP226, Izhmash Saiga-12 combat shotgun (found in Lanza’s car, not used in attack)
03: California MacDonalds Massacre
Dates: July 18, 1984
Locations: San Diego, California
Perpetrators: James Huberty
Killed: 22 (including Huberty)
Injured: 19
Weapons Used: Uzi carbine, Browning HP, 12 gauge Winchester 1200
02: Luby’s Massacre
Dates: October 16, 1991
Locations: Killeen, Texas
Perpetrators: George Hennard
Killed: 24 (including Hennard)
Injured: 20
Weapons Used: Glock 17, Ruger P89
01: Virginia Tech Massacre
Dates: April 16, 2007
Locations: Blacksburg, Virginia
Perpetrators: Seung-Hui Cho
Killed: 32 (including Cho)
Injured: 17
Weapons Used: Glock 19, Walther P22
