Rampage Nation: Securing America from Mass Shootings

by Louis Klarevas

Overview

In the past decade, no individual act of violence has killed more people in the United States than the mass shooting. This well-researched, forcefully argued book answers some of the most pressing questions facing our society: Why do people go on killing sprees? Are gun-free zones magnets for deadly rampages? What can we do to curb the carnage of this disturbing form of firearm violence? Contrary to conventional wisdom, the author shows that gun possession often prods aggrieved, mentally unstable individuals to go on shooting sprees; these attacks largely occur in places where guns are not prohibited by law; and sensible gun-control measures like the federal Assault Weapons Ban-which helped drastically reduce rampage violence when it was in effect-are instrumental to keeping Americans safe from mass shootings in the future. To stem gun massacres, the author proposes several original policy prescriptions, ranging from the enactment of sensible firearm safety reforms to an overhaul of how the justice system investigates potential active-shooter threats and prosecutes violent crimes. Calling attention to the growing problem of mass shootings,Rampage Nationdemonstrates that this unique form of gun violence is more than just a criminal justice offense or public health scourge. It is a threat to American security.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633880665
Publisher:	Prometheus Books
Publication date:	08/23/2016
Pages:	340
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Louis Klarevas, PhD, teaches in the Department of Global Affairs at the University of Massachusetts–Boston. He also serves as a consultant to the federal government on national security matters. A frequent commentator on homeland security and foreign policy, he has appeared on numerous news programs, including on CNN, ABC, NPR, and the BBC. In the past, he has taught at American University, George Washington University, City University of New York, and New York University. In addition, he has served as the Defense Analysis Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Security Studies.

Table of Contents

Preface 9

Acknowledgments 13

Part 1 Problem

Chapter 1 Sandy Hook 17

Chapter 2 The Beginning of Wisdom 31

Chapter 3 A Growing Threat 49

Part 2 Probe

Chapter 4 Unstable, Angry, Armed Men 89

Chapter 5 No Place Is Safe 131

Chapter 6 Guns Kill, Some More Than Others 183

Part 3 Prescription

Chapter 7 Breaking the Trinity 229

Chapter 8 The Bad Man's Awe 249

Chapter 9 The New Normal 267

Appendix: A Theoretical Profile of Seung Hui Gho: From the Perspective of a Forensic Behavioral Scientist Roger L. Depue, PhD 271

Postscript 277

Notes 279

Index 363

Editorial Reviews

""A deeply researched, clearly written study that educates while it horrifies." —  Kirkus Reviews “Despite what you think you know about mass shootings in America, Louis Klarevas shows us that there is no other single violent act that causes more fatalities on domestic soil. So what can we do about it? Rampage Nation makes a compelling case for a strategic effort to address this plague. It is based on exhaustive research and presented with coolheaded analysis and much-needed perspective. From his painstaking reconstructions of tragic events, to identifying key lessons learned, Klarevas’s insights lay waste to the pundits and self-proclaimed experts who routinely misinform the public about this complex problem. Already setting a new standard for informed analysis on the subject, there is simply no better book on mass shootings than this.” — John Horgan, PhD, professor at Georgia State University and author of The Psychology of Terrorism “A groundbreaking study of a growing problem in the United States: mass shootings by a diverse array of individuals. Through extensive research and an engaging writing style, Klarevas provides fresh insights and offers innovative recommendations for dealing with this threat.” — Jeffrey D. Simon, author of Lone Wolf Terrorism “Klarevas has assembled what is known about mass shootings, plus added a great deal of new material, in this highly readable book. Do you want to really understand the effect of gun-free zones or armed civilians on mass shootings? Then you have to read this book. Rampage Nation is a tour de force that greatly expands current knowledge about mass shootings in the United States.” — David Hemenway, PhD, professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and author of Private Guns, Public Health “Klarevas combines analysis of a unique data set with reporting on a number of prominent cases to provide new insights into America’s scourge of mass shootings. Among much else, his evenhanded treatment helps establish the increasing frequency of mass shootings while thoroughly discrediting the claim that ‘gun-free zones’ are somehow the cause. If evidence can trump ideology, this book will become a vital guide to developing effective policy in this area.” — Philip Cook, economist, ITT/Sanford Professor of Public Policy Studies at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, and coauthor of The Gun Debate “Amid today’s search for an intimate understanding of mass shootings in present-day America, Rampage Nation stands out. It is uniquely immersive, with riveting humanistic and statistical data gleaned from America’s mass shootings, which serve as the foundation for plausible explanations and credible answers. I highly recommend this book!” — Col. Gerald Massengill, Virginia State Police superintendent (ret.) and chair of the Virginia Tech Mass Shootings Review Panel

From the Publisher

2016-05-08
Klarevas (Global Affairs/Univ. of Massachusetts-Boston) shares his research showing that mass shootings are more common than widely believed but can be decreased by addressing the conditions common to all the massacres. A trinity of gun violence is at the heart of the book: unstable shooters, unsecured targets, and extraordinarily lethal weapons. Using the trinity as a starting point for understanding seemingly irrational mass murders, Klarevas suggests changes in laws and regulations to reduce danger. He explains why identifying likely perpetrators and fortifying places where they are most likely to strike can work but that the most effective measures would involve controlling certain types of weapons. As he methodically builds his case, the author debunks the research of gun rights advocates, especially the ubiquitous John Lott. Klarevas demonstrates convincingly that most perpetrators fall into an age range that allows full employment, suffer from mental illness, and often view firearms as a hedge against self-esteem issues. The killers tend to focus on people and locations to which they share a real or imagined connection. The chosen locations cannot be defended easily, even by armed personnel onsite. The body counts have increased because lightweight, semiautomatic weapons holding massive numbers of bullets have become increasingly available from manufacturers. Throughout the book, Klarevas alternates explanations of his painstaking research with detailed, gory accounts of rampage killings. He focuses on cases involving a variety of perpetrators and a minimum of six deaths. One of the striking details involves the brevity of the actual shootings. The killer is often able to begin and end the rampage within 10 minutes, although to those at the scene, the duration of the shooting can seem eternal. The author ends with an appendix titled "A Theoretical Profile of Seung Hui Cho," the Virginia Tech killer. A deeply researched, clearly written study that educates while it horrifies.

Kirkus Reviews