[douche]

What I have found amazing, is how rare mass shootings are in the United States. There are an overwhelming number of states where it would simply be the matter of $500 and a trip to Walmart/Craigslist for a disgruntled person or a potential terrorist to fully legally equip themselves to go on a murder-suicide spree.

[DanBC]

> is how rare mass shootings are in the United States.

Mass killings in the US are very common.

If you include:

> More than four people shot and killed (not including the perpetrator)

> At one time

> In one place

> By one person

> In a public place

> Not including gang violence, armed robbery, or domestic violence

You get over 70 incidents in 30 years. That's more than 2 a year. Compare that to the whole of Europe, where you have maybe one per decade.

If you change the definition to include at least 4 people shot and injured, but not killed, you get over 250 per year in the US.

The US is extraordinarily violent among first world countries, even though violent crime has dropped.

[shaftway]

> Compare that to the whole of Europe, where you have maybe one per decade.

Really? There are a couple Wikipedia entries you should read.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_shooting#Europe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rampage_killers_(Europ...

There have been two mass murderers in Switzerland alone in the last 15 years, and it's basically the size of Dallas/Fortworth. Not to mention, y'know, recent events in Paris.

[benjohnson]

I believe you're ignoring the mass shootings in WWII.

I would say they are relevent, as one of the arguments for the 2nd amendment is to keep government from killing the citizenry.