The Secret Service recently published a 60-page report detailing its data about mass public attacks. The study was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center and examines 173 incidents that occurred between 2016 and 2020.
Each attack included in the report resulted in at least “three or more individuals injured or killed across public or semi-public spaces, including businesses, schools, and houses of worship.”
Most articles you read about this study will have one commonality: they will point the finger at guns, placing responsibility on “guns” in general. But that statement is far from accurate, and the Secret Service would agree.
The term “mental health” is used 57 times in the 60-page report, yet the reports being generated by the mainstream media won’t mention that aspect at all.
SEE ALSO: Alec Baldwin Skipped Firearms Training On ‘Rust’ Set
This poses some serious concerns when you consider what the media’s role is in shaping the general public’s perception about the topic.
Like most articles written these days, there is a lot of finger-pointing with no real solutions presented. Their quick answer is to take away the Second Amendment, which we all know would create more issues than it would “fix” anything.
One group that is doing more for the cause of addressing the real issue is the nonprofit Hold My Guns. Their mission is to connect responsible firearm owners with voluntary, private off-site firearms storage options through their national network of gun shops and FFLs, during times of mental health crisis or personal need.
“Guns are common household items, and gun ownership is a normal part of American life,” said Sarah Joy Albrecht, Founder and Executive Director of Hold My Guns.
“According to the 2021 National Firearms Survey, 32% of the U.S. adult population ages 18 and over own firearms – this translates to about 81.4 million Americans. Prioritizing accessibility to voluntary firearms storage empowers gun owners to responsibly manage their personal matters without stigma or fear of losing their Constitutionally-protected rights,” she continued.
To further understand mass shootings, it is important to acknowledge all sides of the topic. S.H. Blannelberry wrote an interesting article that helped to contextualize mass public shootings. Of everything mentioned in this article, one stat really stood out.
It is extremely hard to view this pie chart and not see an overwhelming trend. Criminalizing firearms or responsible firearm owners will not fix the problem.
What is our best approach? What is the answer? One thing is certain, gun-control fanatics doing what they have been doing — making gun-free zones and trying to strip us of our 2A rights — isn’t working.
The full report:
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Bad enough that most of the authors are women, with Bidufus, now the head of the US Secret service is “Kimberly” !
This study is probably the best reason for background checks. Only an idiot would think anyone is trying to, or even can, take away their guns. Background checks are the best way to keep guns out of the hands of CRAZY people or as the secret service calls them, people with mental health concerns. Call it what you like, crazy is crazy no matter how you spell it and crazy and guns make for a bad combination. And don’t give me that insane bullshit that there’s nothing in the second amendment that says crazy people can’t have guns.
Let’s take a deep dive down into the centuries old statutes from colonial to state. Well, if we were really interested in protecting our rights, we would be exercising our DUTY.
Every colony, and then state had similar statutes that were adopted into the U.S. Constitution.
•[1619] “All persons whatsoever upon the Sabaoth daye shall frequent divine service * * * , and all suche as beare arms shall bring their pieces swordes, poulder and shotte.” (Mass shootings at churches. Why when we were supposed to be armed?)
The 13 original colonies had statutes from which congress drafted the original Militia requirements; “Thus, in the first Militia statute under the Constitution, Congress provided that “every citizen” enrolled in the Militia “shall * * * provide himself with a good musket or firelock * * * or with a good rifle”, which faithfully followed the pattern set in the pre-constitutional Militia laws, even to the specification of particular types of equipment.”
•All men are to possess, not just “armes and habiliments”, but “armes and habiliments for war”—that is, of contemporary military grade—which are always to be “kept fixed and fitt for service”.
United States v Miller 307 U.S. 174 (1939) – Justice McReynolds points to Article I, § 8, Cls. 15 & 16, and wrote “With obvious purpose to assure the continuation and render possible the effectiveness of such forces, the declaration and guarantee of the Second Amendment were made. It must be interpreted and applied with that end in view.” (“[E]ffectiveness”! How would a flintlock be effective in today’s world? It wouldn’t.)
The Founders understood that most would never rise to protecting and defending their rights, so they carried forward mandatory service in militia, just like Switzerland, and Israel have today. Except in the U.S. the state statutes have varying ages, and require drilling just 4-5 times a year, and even that was/is too much for almost every pretend citizen.
So what percentage of mass shooters diagnosed with mental health issues were also on prescription psychotropic medications?
That chart is not in the report.
How nice of them to provide “storage” where I am sure an inventory will be conducted and, of course, that info will remain secure………..won’t it?
It just baffles me why so many gun owners, pro-gun groups, & writers just don’t seem to understand What is behind the incessant attempt to disarm the populace. Some get it, but far too many don’t.
In short, those heading the effort have self-serving, evil intent. Most of those on-board know nothing about the gun world and have been propagandized to believe if there are no guns around somehow that would magically change the malevolent among us. For those people, it becomes an inflamed emotional, rather than reasoned rational, issue. The evil ones are adept at playing on those emotions. Get rid of the evil ones and educate the ones who’ve been duped, and the problem goes away… until the next batch of evil ones rise to take their place.
One statistic ever mentioned in masss shootings is that the overwhelming majority of shooters are Democrats, or minor children of Democrats. Colorado theatre shooting, Fort Hood, almost every school shooting. But this along with gun free zone statistics is never mentioned.
No one is storing my firearms for me. The British forced the colonists into a situation like that, storing their arms in an armory until needed fir Indian attack or self defense. Didn’t work and it let them know where all the muskets were at.
The preponderance of drugs mixed with weapons knives included is rarely if ever brought into the spot light together.
I believe someone could easily write an FOIA expose/book on the toxicology of so-called mass murderers. It’s a subject that the government and the media are conspicuously silent on. I do not believe that any human being, no matter how disturbed, could commit those horrendous acts without considerable chemical influence. I may be wrong, but I still contend that the silence on the subject of drugs in mass shootings (and stabbings) is deafening.
GUN FREE ZONES ARE KILLING ZONES. Stay safe.
MattyP’s article includes a link to the US Secret Service report “…detailing its data about mass public attacks.” I am able to download the report (PDF document) only to find that it is password-protected. WHAT’S THE PASSWORD?
While the content was a lot to digest in this small print format, at cursory examination, I feel a key point was not readily addressed. In almost all incidents there was not any fault placed on the person’s or agencies that had a duty to take some action such as reporting, responding , or investigating and failing to do their job! Citizens who “knew so and so was a nut” and said nothing to authorities, administrative types who were notified and did nothing, and government agencies, both law enforcement and bureaucratic, that had the duty to act, failed to do so.
I’m thinking it’s past time that the ones that could have helped stop these mass shootings and didn’t be charged severely! It’s a much better solution than punishing law abiding citizens just because they exercise their 2nd amendment rights???
Comanche out!!!%
Yet they hold the firearm manufacturers responsible and legal action can be taken against them. What a joke.
If someone drives their truck into a group of pedestrians can the victims sue Ford?
Another “huge commonality” is that most of the shooters with mental health problems
are under the care of a physician and are taking prescription psychotropic drugs.
These drugs typically have a warning that says they “may cause suicidal or homicidal ideation”.
So, I’m a passenger in a car while my friend is driving. I know she’s under medication for clinical depression. While we’re talking, she suddenly blurts out that she’s been thinking a lot about suicide lately(!!).
The scene in that Woody Allen movie where he’s a sitting in the front passenger seat, while his girlfriend’s brother is behind the wheel and announces he has suicidal thoughts, flashed through my mind.
When we finally arrived back at her place(whew!), I asked her to name the meds she was on. When I got home, I looked them up. A big warning came up that if you had thoughts of suicide, or harming others, contact your physician Immediately.
Well, here’s a quote from the “mainstream media” article linked to above:
“4. Over half of attackers experienced mental health symptoms prior to or at the time of their attacks.”
The mainstream media article goes on to quote the Secret Service’s statements about mental illness in the report as well:
“The vast majority of individuals in the U.S. who experience the mental health issues discussed…do not commit acts of crime or violence,” the report noted. “The symptoms described in this section constitute potential contributing factors and should not be viewed as causal explanations for why the attacks occurred.”
That’s a lengthier and more nuanced quote than what’s in the Guns America editorial. By comparison, the Guns America editorial just counted the number if times the report said the words mental illness and then suggested the SS report blamed all shootings on folks being mentally ill. In my opinion, that is some sloppy ass journalism.
If you can honestly say that most mainstream media outlets aren’t overwhelmingly biased against firearms and the 2nd Amendment, then (IMO), you have some “sloppy ass” observational skills.
Looking at the firearms industry I don’t believe that the anti-gun crowd has realized how many millions of jobs would be lost if guns were eliminated.
First would be the dealers, manufacturers and ammunition producers. Then the gunsmiths, Hunting Clothes Manufacturers and Retail Stores as well as all of the catalog and internet stores selling these articles. Of course hunting licenses would no longer be needed so the States would lose that income and would have to lay off their Wildlife Wardens and Conservation Staff. We wouldn’t really need nearly as many Park Rangers or patrols of public land so those officers could go too.
The list of those losing their employment gets longer and longer, but the anyi-American, anti-gun crowd does NOT care.
That’s not an issue directly related to this article. Don’t lose focus.
You answered your own off topic question!
But, as Biden put it, they could get new jobs among the “millions” of new jobs he’s creating in the renewable energy field. Not to worry, we’ll all be safer and crime will vanish. Uh huh
Hold my Guns has a unique idea, but are they also going to hold peoples gas from their cars, knives, hammers, fertilizer, etc. to keep theives from stealing them?
Thanks. It is an idea that is working! Our program is meeting the needs of people in our community and helping them make life-affirming choices. Our gun shop partners can also store nonserialized parts, like firing pins. I understand the rub about other objects being used for suicide; firearms are our lane and we are proud of our community taking care of its own members. People use HMG’s service for many reasons, including during deployment or if a person in their household becomes prohibited. We never ask why. We are just happy to help our community, knowing that not everyone is blessed with friends or family members who can meet this need.
My only concern about safe storage is that a FFL dealer is required to conduct a NICs check to return the firearm(s) to their owner and many states have laws that do not allow even temporary transfers to another person regardless of reason.
The law makers could improve this safe storage option by making proper provisions and protecting personal firearm ownership information.
Three years ago my best friend lost his wife. He was so depressed he thought about shooting himself. It scared him so much he asked me if I could put his gun in my gun safe for a while. I was glad to help him in any way I could. Two years later he met his girlfriend, his life turned around, he’s getting married next month and he asked me if I can give him back his gun. Bottom line is he didn’t shoot himself in the head three years ago and today he’s doing great. Don’t knock something just because you don’t need it.
SOOOooo, America HAS a SECRET SERVICE!? When did the CIA begin working WITHIN American borders?!
Since they killed Kennedy…
The whole point of executing a mass shooting, other than gang shootings, is to do it in a very public space. They are intended to terrorize; spreading fear is much harder to do when you do it in private. And this chart proves it, and the idiocy of public area gun bans. Do politicians really believe that an additional charge of possessing a firearm in a gun free zone wll deter someone intent on committing a mass felony? Or are they simply cynical bastards who are seizing an opportune target in order to strip citizens of gun rights?
Great rhetorical question. I don’t believe anyone reading the article will have difficulty in understanding the answer.
Whoa, there! Most of those mass shootings are Not terrorist events. Usually, they’re about some form of twisted revenge, a hate crime, or a suicidal individual who insanely doesn’t want to check-out alone.
A true terrorist event would likely involve an explosive device intended to inflict as much damage to the target as possible; e.g.- Islamist “martyrs.”