EVERYTHING you think you know about mass killings is wrong.

That's the argument from a new Homicide Research Working Group article which examines common myths and misconceptions about mass shooters.

The article Mass Shootings in America: Moving Beyond Newtownexamines policy proposals to avert killing sprees, and argues that their prospects for reducing the risk of murderous rampages are limited.

Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox and University of Pennsylvania graduate student Monica DeLateur looked at the 2012 calendar year, during which high profile killings such as the Batman cinema shooting in Aurora, Colorado and the Sandy Hook school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut dominated headlines.

"Politicians, pundits, and professors of various disciplines were all over the media, pushing their proposals for change," they wrote.

"Some talked about the role of guns, others about access to mental health services, and still more about the need for enhanced security in schools and other public places.

"Whatever their agenda or the passion behind it, these advocates made certain assumptions concerning patterns in mass murder and the profile of mass killers.

"Unfortunately, these assumptions were not always consistent with the facts."

So they set about to bust some of those myths.

Myth 1: Mass murderers snap and kill indiscriminately

There is a common misconcetiopn that mass murderers suddenly go berserk.

But mass killers usually carefully plan their attacks, sometimes months in advance. Their preparations include where, when, who they will kill and what weapons they will use.

Myth 2: Mass shooting are on the rise

There is a sense of urgency around the idea that authorities need to find and implement a solution to mass killings, and this idea is fuelled by claims mass shooting are reaching "epidemic proportions".

But data from the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reporting program shows that over the past few decades there have been, on average, nearly 20 mass shooting a year in the United States. The two years with the most amount of mass shootings - over 25 - were 1993 and 2003.

Mass shootings were defined as crimes with at least four fatalities.

Myth 3: Recent mass-murders involve record-setting body counts

The researchers argue that journalists should not focus on characterising tragedies "as some kind of record".

"Whether the latest massacre is in any sense the worst doesn't change the associated pain and suffering of the victims, their families, and the community at large.

"If anything has increased with regard to mass murder, it is the public's fear, anxiety, and widely held belief that the problem is getting worse. Unquestionably, this perception is linked to the style and pervasiveness of news-media coverage."

Myth 4: Violent entertainment, especially video games, are causally linked to mass murder

Social science researchers have been unable to establish a direct causal link that proves the consumption of violent entertainment leads to violent behaviour.

"Much was written in the popular press about the fact that Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza spent long hours alone in the basement of his Newtown home playing violent video games," the researchers wrote.

"However, his gaming may be more a symptom of his personality and temperament than the cause. As a socially awkward youngster, reportedly with Asperger's syndrome, his social isolation may be the key to his preoccupation with gaming as well as his rampage against an unwelcoming society."

Myth 5: Greater attention and response to the telltale warning signs will allow us to identify would-be mass killers before they act

After a mass killing, one question inevitably comes up: why didn't anyone see the warning signs?

Mass murderers tend to have certain things in common: they are overwhelmingly male, caucasian, older than 30, and they display psychological and behavioural characteristics including depression, resentment, social isolation, the tendency to externalise blame, fascination with graphically violent entertainment, and a keen interest in weaponry.

But these characteristics - even in combination - are also prevalent in the population in general.

Myth 6: Widening the availability of mental health services will allow unstable individuals to get the treatment they need and alert mass murders

Mental health advocates have argued that in the wake of recent mass shootings it is time to focus on increasing access to mental health treatment.

But the researchers suggest this is the right thing to do for the wrong reason. This idea stigmatises all sufferers of mental illness and suggests "they too are mass murderers in waiting".

And an expansion of services will not necessarily reach the small number of individuals "on the fringe" who actually are mass murderers in waiting.

Myth 7: Enhanced background checks will keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of these madmen

Mass killings always reignite fierce debate over gun control. But those who argue for strict new rules can say things that are counterproductive.

"They are often blinded by passion and anger from confronting the practical limitations to achieving that desirable objective," the report states.

Furthermore, most mass murderers do not have criminal records so would be able to pass harsher background checks.

Myth 8: Restoring the federal ban on assault weapons will prevent these horrible crimes

In 1994 a ban on military-style assault weapons expired. After Sandy Hook politicians and media pundits suggested this was part of the mass murder problem.

But a comparison of extreme murder incidences during the 10-year ban and after it show the legislation had "virtually no effect".

Myth 9: Expanding "Right to Carry" provisions will deter mass killers or at least stop them in their tracks and reduce the body counts

The idea behind this myth is that more citizens should be armed so they can counter-attack if an assailant goes on a rampage.

This debate has focused on schools, and the arming of teachers and other staff members.

But the researchers argue: "It is hard to imagine that a vengeful student, who is willing to die by police gunfire or by his or her own hand, would be dissuaded by knowing that the faculty were armed. He may even welcome the chance to shoot it out with the principal at high noon in the school cafeteria".

Myth 10: Increasing physical security in schools and other places will prevent mass murder

Increasing security does more to calm the fears of the public in the wake of a tragedy than it does to actually make people more safe.

"Most security measures serve only as a minor inconvenience for those who are determined to cause mayhem," the report states.

Myth 11: Having armed guards at every school will serve to protect students from an active shooter and provide a deterrent as well

Many schools already have these measures in place.

The researchers point out that Columbine High School had officers on duty in 1999 when two teenagers went on a killing spree.

This school had nearly 2000 students, and security officers can't be everywhere at once.

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