So far this year, there have been over 300 mass shootings in the United States. But could there be more? Did you know there is no universal definition of what a mass shooting is?
It is true. There is no universal definition of what defines a mass shooting. Multiple sources do have their own definition of a mass shooting though.
Definitions of Mass Shootings
Congress defines mass shootings as three or more killings in a single event which does not include the prepetrator
The Federal Bureau Investigations (FBI) does not have a define for the broad term. However, the FBI does defines an active shooter as an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.
The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group, defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.
Mother Jones defines a mass shooting as three people fatally injured which excludes the perpetrator.
Lastly, the Violence Project defines a mass shooting as a multiple homicide incident in which four or more victims are murdered with firearms, this excludes the perpetrator.
