What traits identify a potential active shooter? What can you do to prevent more mass shootings?
On Saturday, August 3, 2019, in El Paso Texas, a peaceful Walmart store was bustling with shoppers. The shoppers didn’t take their guns with them because they believed they were in a safe place, doing something safe. But twenty-one-year-old Patrick Crusius opened fire on them with an AK47 style assault rifle, proving these innocent victims and bystanders wrong.
Patrick Crusius shot 24 people. Some he killed and others he injured. He was obviously angry, like one of his now-deceased peers, California shooter Santino William Legan, was. When one would-be victim asked 19-year-old shooter Legan at the Garlic Food Festival in Gilroy, California why he was doing this, he replied, “Because I’m really angry.” Legan killed three people and injured at least twelve others on Sunday, July 18, 2019.
Could we have prevented these tragedies?
The answer to this question is individual, therefore each person should have his or her own opinion.
Is it possible to identify active shooters before a tragedy?
Researchers have identified the traits of active shooters. They are usually:
- Loners who haven’t successfully connected with others.
- Narcissists, often having other mental illnesses, too.
- Very angry people.
Why are there now more people with these traits than ever before?
Did you know that people who have an imbalance of negatives and positives in their lives usually exhibit those three characteristics?
Positives include opportunities for success, having supportive people around you, as well as having a resilient temperament. Negatives include abuse and neglect, a stressful life, and psychological problems. When the negatives outweigh the positives, a person is more likely to become an angry and violent person. Kathryn Seifert, Ph.D. explains this clearly in her book, How Children Become Violent.
Our increasing dependence on technology is one major negative. Too many people today use their electronic devices to “connect” to virtual friends instead of experiencing the human connection everyone needs to be healthy mentally. For example, someone can have many Facebook friends and no one to actually talk to in the real world.
Too many children spending too much time playing video games (especially violent ones) is also a negative.
Family breakdowns are another culprit. Divorce affects every child differently, and some are affected more than others.
Perhaps you can think of more causes of our current blight.
To prevent more violence in our society, it is more important to recognize its cause and implement effective strategies to deal with it.
What can YOU do to prevent mass shootings?
In 1991, the worldwide web became available to the public, and in the 1990’s smartphone use began and has increased exponentially since. Ninety percent of the worst mass murders occurred after 1990. Yes, some people were lonely before 1990 and killed others with guns, but not nearly as often as they do now.
Prior to 1995, our society was simple. Most of us had no cell phones, no computers, and no internet. Since these distractions weren’t commonplace, people actually spoke to each other. We connected often. But our world has changed. Now in restaurants, I often see entire families or groups of people using their cell phones, not even speaking the other diners at their table. Electronic devices have replaced good ol’ face-to-face communication.
We are now paying the price for our techno-wizardry, and people in the eighteen to twenty-two age group suffer its effects the most. However, we can offset the negative effects of the conveniences we enjoy.
You can help with this! Simply put your phone away in public places. Then speak to others around you, even strangers, and acknowledge them! If more people connected face-to-face, there would be fewer people who feel like an angry loner.
It is difficult to initiate a conversation with someone you don’t know, especially if you live in a densely populated area. But you don’t want more mass shootings, do you? Perhaps it is time for you to ask a certain question whenever you get the chance.
“How are you?”.
If we sincerely asked “How are you?” to others around us (including strangers), wouldn’t we all feel more connected to each other again? If we get a cursory reply, we could respond by saying, “How are you really doing?”. We need to practice active listening, too..
What is active listening? Active listening shows your companion you are really paying attention to his or her words. Ignore all electronic devices and make eye contact. Find common ground or interest if possible. Show him or her you are really listening by responding with an “I statement” (“I hear you saying that…”) Especially if your companion is sad or upset or angry about something, you really need to show you care and use active listening!
When you are tempted to interrupt the other person, just imagine life without this person in it. Or life after this person commits a violent crime. That mental picture should cause you to listen without interrupting.
Pay attention to nonverbal clues, or body language.
Too shy to speak to others? You can wear a “How are you?” movement t-shirt and draw attention to it. (Email bobbiejrae@gmail.com to order one.)
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Legan or Crusius might not have connected with anyone before the horrific crimes they committed. If they had, perhaps their innocent victims would still be normal, uninjured people.
I need your help to start a “How are you?” movement. To participate, ask one person who looks lonely whom you see in public “How are you?” today and actively listen to the answer. Then practice this activity as often as you can. You can email me if you like (bobbiejrae@gmail.com) and let me know you are joining my movement and changing the world. I would appreciate knowing I have your support!
What is your answer?
Could we have prevented these tragedies?
Let the encouraging words in these bobbiejrae posts help you
soar like an eagle above life’s storms.
Anger isn’t necessary!
Should you wait to do this?
I tagged you and now you’re “it”!
Martin Luther King had the right idea.