As the pandemic spread across the country, students were swept from their classrooms and isolated in their homes, raising concern that the instability could result in devastating emotional health implications and widespread learning loss. But it also came with an unsettling silver lining: A year without a single mass school shooting. The trend … [Read more...]
After A Year Without Mass School Shootings, Experts Sound the Alarm About a ‘Return to Normal’
Will a return to normal post-pandemic mean a return of mass shootings?
The Violence Project's co-founder James Densley spoke with Talib Visram from Fast Company about the contagion effect of mass shootings and mental health. “The reality is: We weren’t living our best selves before the pandemic. America was not a happy, fully functioning place where everybody felt included, and where everybody was thriving. Going … [Read more...]
Colorado is one of four states whose laws don’t prohibit someone with a mental illness from owning firearms
The Violence Project's co-founder James Densleys spoke to Faith Karimi at CNN about the difficulty in determining who should be banned from owning a firearm under current law. "For that reason some might say federal restrictions are too broad, Densley said, because banning gun ownership for life after someone is hospitalized could increase … [Read more...]
Why mass shootings stopped in 2020 — and why they are now roaring back
Mass shootings, which had become far less frequent in 2020, have come roaring back. On Monday, a gunman opened fire at a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., killing 10. And this comes on the heels of the Atlanta spa attacks last week that killed eight. We’ve been studying mass shootings, defined as four or more people shot and killed in a public … [Read more...]
In a time of pandemic and riot, crime was up 15 percent in St. Paul last year
The Violence Project's Jillian Peterson spoke with Mara Gottfried about risk factors for violence. "Research shows that poverty, stress and mental health concerns — all amplified during the coronavirus pandemic — increase the risk for gun violence and homicides, Peterson said. At the same time, the pandemic has impacted face-to-face prevention … [Read more...]