A new government report says half of the mass attacks in the United States over the past few years started as personal, family, or workplace disputes.
The attackers, the report found, were mostly men. The attackers often have a history of mental health issues, money problems or domestic violence. Their weapons of choice: guns.
The 70-page report studied 173 mass attacks carried out over a five-year period, from January 2016 to December 2020. The mass attacks happened in places such as businesses, schools and religious centers. The attacks killed a total of 513 people and injured 1,234.
“It’s just happening way too often,” said Lina Alathari, the center’s director.
Alathari said that while the center did not study the two most recent shootings in California, there are themes seen “over and over again” when studying mass attacks. Officials said the suspects in both recent California shootings were older men. They both used semi-automatic guns.
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Police officers detain a man, believed by law enforcement to be the Half Moon Bay mass shooting suspect, in Half Moon Bay, California, U.S., January 23, 2023, in this screengrab taken from a social media video. (Kati McHugh via REUTERS)
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The report is the latest in a series undertaken by the center to examine mass attacks. Earlier reports examined the years of 2017, 2018 and 2019. But the new report noted that it examines several years of data, which offers more “in-depth analysis of the thinking and behavior of mass attackers.”
The center defines a mass attack as one in which three or more people — not including the attacker — were harmed.
The report noted that nearly two-thirds of attackers showed behaviors or communications “that were so concerning, they should have been met with an immediate response.” It said these concerns were often shared with law enforcement, employers, school workers or parents. But in 20 percent of the cases, the concerning behavior was not communicated to anyone who could do something about it.
Ninety-six percent of the attackers were men. The attackers ranged in age from 14 to 87.
The report called for greater attention toward violence at home. It noted that half of the attackers had a history of domestic violence or hatred toward women.
About half the attacks in the study involved workplace violence related to co-workers, customers or businesses. The report said workplaces should establish “behavioral threat assessment programs” to prevent possible violence. And it said businesses should work with law enforcement to deal with “incidents involving a concern for violence.”
The report also found that firearms were used in 73 percent of incidents.
Mass shootings happen often in the United States. But American lawmakers remain divided on how to deal with gun violence. Democrats are calling for more gun control measures, while Republicans’ calls center on mental health and increased security.
Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded the right to carry guns outside the home. The court struck down a state law in New York that required people to show a specific need to carry a firearm in public.
I'm Ashley Thompson.
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Words in This Story
domestic - adj. relating to or involving someone's home
theme - n. a particular subject or issue that is discussed often and repeatedly
analysis - n. a careful study of something
response - n. something that is done as a reaction to something else
assessment - n. the act of making a judgement about something
OTHER TRASLATE:
A new government report says half of the mass attacks in the United States over the past few years started as personal, family, or workplace disputes.
Un nuevo informe del Gobierno dice que la mitad de los ataques masivos en los Estados Unidos en los últimos años comenzaron como disputas personales, familiares o laborales.
The attackers, the report found, were mostly men. The attackers often have a history of mental health issues, money problems or domestic violence. Their weapons of choice: guns.
Los atacantes, según el informe, eran en su mayoría hombres. Los atacantes a menudo tienen antecedentes de problemas de salud mental, problemas de dinero o violencia doméstica. Sus armas preferidas: pistolas...
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The 70-page report studied 173 mass attacks carried out over a five-year period, from January 2016 to December 2020. The mass attacks happened in places such as businesses, schools and religious centers. The attacks killed a total of 513 people and injured 1,234.
El informe de 70 páginas estudió 173 ataques masivos llevados a cabo durante un período de cinco años, desde enero de 2016 hasta diciembre de 2020. Los ataques masivos ocurrieron en lugares como negocios, escuelas y centros religiosos. Los ataques mataron a un total de 513 personas e hirieron a 1.234.
It’s just happening way too often,” said Lina Alathari, the center’s director.
Simplemente sucede con demasiada frecuencia”, dijo Lina Alathari, directora del centro.
Alathari said that while the center did not study the two most recent shootings in California, there are themes seen “over and over again” when studying mass attacks. Officials said the suspects in both recent California shootings were older men. They both used semi-automatic guns.
Alathari dijo que si bien el centro no estudió los dos tiroteos más recientes en California, hay temas que se ven “una y otra vez” al estudiar los ataques masivos. Las autoridades dijeron que los sospechosos de los dos tiroteos recientes en California eran hombres mayores. Ambos usaron armas semiautomáticas.
The report called for greater attention toward violence at home El informe pidió una mayor atención hacia la violencia en el hogar.
undertaken emprendida(femenino)
behavior of mass attackers. comportamiento de los atacantes masivos.
harmed. dañada.(femenino)
It said these concerns were often shared with law enforcement, employers, school workers or parents. But in 20 percent of the cases, the concerning behavior was not communicated to anyone who could do something about it.
Dijo que estas preocupaciones a menudo se compartían con la policía, los empleadores, los trabajadores escolares o los padres. Pero en el 20 por ciento de los casos, el comportamiento preocupante no se comunicó a nadie que pudiera hacer algo al respecto.
About half the attacks in the study involved workplace violence related to co-workers, customers or businesses. The report said workplaces should establish “behavioral threat assessment programs” to prevent possible violence. And it said businesses should work with law enforcement to deal with “incidents involving a concern for violence.”
Aproximadamente la mitad de los ataques en el estudio involucraron violencia en el lugar de trabajo relacionada con compañeros de trabajo, clientes o empresas. El informe dijo que los lugares de trabajo deberían establecer "programas de evaluación de amenazas de comportamiento" para prevenir posibles actos de violencia. Y dijo que las empresas deberían trabajar con las fuerzas del orden público para lidiar con “incidentes que involucren una preocupación por la violencia”.
Mass shootings happen often in the United States. But American lawmakers remain divided on how to deal with gun violence. Democrats are calling for more gun control measures, while Republicans’ calls center on mental health and increased security.
Los tiroteos masivos ocurren a menudo en los Estados Unidos. Pero los legisladores estadounidenses siguen divididos sobre cómo lidiar con la violencia armada. Los demócratas piden más medidas de control de armas, mientras que los republicanos se centran en la salud mental y una mayor seguridad.
Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded the right to carry guns outside the home. The court struck down a state law in New York that required people to show a specific need to carry a firearm in public.
En junio pasado, la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos amplió el derecho a portar armas fuera del hogar. El tribunal anuló una ley estatal en Nueva York que requería que las personas demostraran una necesidad específica de portar un arma de fuego en público.
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