Mass shootings have steadily been on the rise over the past decade in America. Studies conducted by organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and scholars from the Harvard School of Public Health have found that just in the last three years alone, mass shooting rates have tripled. Since 2011, mass shootings on average occur once every 64 days. Before that, between 1982 and late 2011, the average was once every 200 days (Plumer 1). Researchers do not concretely know the reasons for the rise of mass shootings but they do have some ideas. They believe that allowing children more access to violent media content, the growing number of people untreated or undiagnosed with mental illnesses, and the need for stricter gun control are the cause for the rise in mass shootings in America.

Children in America are increasingly being bombarded with gore, guns, and violence in popular media today that may influence them to become more violent. In real life, popular T.V. shows such as The Walking Dead occupy their screens with blood and death. Popular video games such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Halo show violence and immunize the player to using guns and killing people in a variety of ways. While some researchers do not fully agree with the assumptions that playing these violent games or watching gory TV shows leads to violent behavior, others "contend that studies have long shown that exposure to media violence at least correlates with aggressive behavior" (Lyons 1). Children that play more violent video games or watch more mature shows are more prone to acting on their violent tendencies if angered or upset compared to a child that is not exposed to violent media. From the shows and games the children follow the lead of their favorite character who takes the more violent approach towards their final goal. Research done on the background of juvenile mass murderers show that after dropping out of their schools and leaving behind their responsibilities, they filled their life with violent video games and movies (Lyons 1). This is a possible cause for their actions that landed them in a detention center or possibly jail. 20-year-old Adam Lanza, responsible for the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut in 2012, had a big love for violent video games, as did the two high school seniors in charge of the Columbine shooting in 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Through research of the mass shootings Lanza was found to have had "played violent video and online games such as Combat Arms and World of Warcraft ( Lyons 1).By allowing children and students to play these video games that support violence, it desensitizes the player to violence and the repercussions if done in the real world. The player becomes easily angered and prone to physical violence and does not realize that violence like in the video games is not the best way to handle a problem. Some kids bombarded with violent media do not realize that killing someone with a gun is not appropriate, and neither is running someone over with a car or taking advantage of a woman, as portrayed in multiple popular video games. 

In the past decade, most of the people responsible for a mass shooting have been untreated or not properly diagnosed for a mental illness. In fact, "at least 38 of the 61 mass shooters in the past three decades displayed signs of mental health problems prior to the killings" (Plumer 1). Torrey, a psychiatrist, also claims that "about half of [. . .] mass killings are being done by people with severe mental illness, mostly schizophrenia" (MacLeish 240). To combat the possibility of a mentally ill citizen causing violence, several states such as Maryland and New York have passed laws not allowing people diagnosed with any form of mental illness to buy or own a gun. This comes after the ruling that the man responsible for the Sandy Hook shooting was mentally unstable. Many people, however, believe that the only reason a mentally ill person would commit such a crime is because they are not properly medicated or informed about their condition. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, "sixty percent of people living with a mental illness are not receiving the care that they need" ("Early Identification" 1). If the shooters were to be properly diagnosed or treated, they might be better equipped for a healthy lifestyle and would most likely refrain from a mass shooting. Their friends and family would know how to give them the proper care they need to ensure they are safe and secure, and they would not be in the mental state of mind to cause harm to others. Representative Rob Barber, a survivor of the Tucson, Arizona shooting, believes that "mass shootings could have been averted if the public was more aware of the indications of mental illness and how to get help" ("Early Identification" 1). Most mentally ill patients are actually non- violent, in fact "more than 95 percent of individuals living with a mental illness are not violent" ("Early Identification" 1). If they were to be treated and diagnosed properly, the shootings could be prevented and the public would not need to fear or blame the illness.

While it may seem counterintuitive, many Americans actually run out to buy more guns after a mass shooting has occurred which raises the number of guns in the public and shows how relatively easy and fast it is to acquire a gun. The buyer believes that he needs that new gun for protection, to use if he is found in a situation where he has to protect his family and friends. Apparently, "the week the FBI performed the most background checks since 1998 came immediately after the December 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 27 people" ("US Gun Sales" 1). A large percentage of the public and the government believe that stricter laws, such as background checks, should be in place concerning the purchase of guns that would prevent them from getting into the wrong hands. However, shortly after the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut, Obama and several Democrats in Congress tried to pass a law for more gun control, but it was ultimately vetoed by Republicans and a few other Democrats. In support of the proposal for the stricter laws, studies showed that "states with background checks for all handgun sales had 52% fewer mass shootings as states with more lax rules" ("Fewer Mass Shootings" 1). The background checks prohibited citizens with a history of domestic violence, felonies, and mental illness from purchasing a gun. One study found that "states that checked for a criminal history in buyers had 64% fewer mass shootings related to domestic violence" ("Fewer Mass Shootings"). Some states with more lax gun control laws have higher percentages of gun violence, while states with strict gun laws have lower percentages of gun violence. Another report found that overall "there were 63% fewer mass shootings perpetrated by prohibited shooters in states that required background checks for handguns" ("Fewer Mass Shootings"). If gun sales were more controlled, the possibilities of a weapon falling into the hands of a future shooter would be limited. Background checks would ensure it would not fall into the hands of someone unsuitable. As of right now, however, the laws are still lax depending on the location of the gun sale and can ensure that a criminal or future criminal is allowed a gun.

It is widely believed by researchers and members of the public that the rise in mass shootings are caused by kids being desensitized to violence in the maturing media, the mentally ill not being properly diagnosed, and the lack of gun control in America. Researchers are still seeking more evidence to support their hypotheses and ideas for the main cause of the rise in mass shootings. If a true cause is found then maybe one day there can be an end to the ever growing number of mass shootings and America could possibly live in peace and little worry. 

