Mass Shootings in America Are Spreading Like A Disease
This article is about the influence media has on mass shootings. Initially, this article attracted to me because of the recent mass shooting at Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida which has caused many protests and walkouts for stricter gun control. The possible motives of a mass shooter could be the popularity he/she receives in news outlets. Mass shooters are often reported about a number of times and receive “public glorification”. Within minutes the identity of the mass shooter is viral on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Although this problem could be solved by distributing fewer information about the shooter, but the listeners and readers would still want to be informed about the small details about the tragedy. The author mentions that a small amount of money has been spent on researching mass shootings. More research about the problem could explain the frequent recurrence of mass shootings and help prevent future shootings. The author was very insightful in his explanation and he states factual evidence of media’s role in mass shootings. It disgusts me to think that one is motivated to kill innocent lives just for recognition on television when instead you could do an act of kindness and receive respect and gratification. Although the article is mainly about media’s influence on mass shootings, at the end of the article the author also mentions the accessibility Americans have to guns. I believe that gun control is an evident reason of the repetition in mass shootings in America. In order to stop further mass shootings from occurring stricter gun control laws need to be enforced.