# Guns, guns, and more guns. What can America do to reduce mass shootings? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 12, 2019, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418 "2019-06-12T10:41:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/141 "2019-06-19T16:30:35Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Fascinating. Do please tell us who and how. A good deal of gun-control activists leap at the keyboards when a mass shooting takes place. (for understandable reason, of course) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/142 "2019-06-19T16:31:14Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > This isn’t about “glorifying the shooters”-This is about “exposing the problem”. If this was about “glorifying the shooters” then they would be upset about other violent media, like television and movies. The fantasy world that _actually_ glorifies gun use, that deliberately pushes guns as a solution, seems to be a blind spot. In the big picture, mass shootings arent really a problem. They are a tiny % of the overall murder rate. And you can talk about and show the issue without mentioning the name of the shooter, just like you can have a news article about a rape without telling the name of the victim. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/143 "2019-06-19T16:31:24Z")
And they “benefit” … how? \*Perhaps \*there are other motivations at work. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/144 "2019-06-19T16:32:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Voluntary guidelines that call for news departments to cut their own throats ratings-wise? Without across the board enforcement via all popular media these suggestions are useless, and with across the board enforcement you run into Freedom Of The Press problems. … Yes, you are so right, which is why the media still reports the names of rape victims, because there’s no law stopping them…oh wait…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/145 "2019-06-19T16:34:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > In the big picture, mass shootings arent really a problem. They are a tiny % of the overall murder rate. And you can talk about and show the issue without mentioning the name of the shooter, just like you can have a news article about a rape without telling the name of the victim. In post #140 I think I explained why the guidelines for reporting suicide might not apply to the reporting of mass murder. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/146 "2019-06-19T16:38:09Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, you are so right, which is why the media still reports the names of rape victims, because there’s no law stopping them…oh wait…:rolleyes: Keeping in mind that any such restriction is voluntary, if being the first to get the name of a rape victim out could cause the ratings to jump, what do you think would happen? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/147 "2019-06-19T16:42:03Z")
What are the rates of new gun purchases following mass shootings over the last few decades? I wouldn’t be surprised if the folks who are a’feared of tighter gun control would be less inclined to run out and by a gun now that Trump is not pushing gun control the way Obama was. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/148 "2019-06-19T16:42:33Z")
“We are keeping the name of the victim private out of sympathy for the victim’s family and friends” can actually make a news station look good. “We are keeping the name of the mass murderer private out of sympathy for the murderer’s family and friends”? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/149 "2019-06-19T16:44:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “We are keeping the name of the victim private out of sympathy for the victim’s family and friends” can actually make a news station look good. > “We are keeping the name of the mass murderer private out of sympathy for the murderer’s family and friends”? > Not so much. We are keeping the name of the mass murderer private as we don’t wish to glorify this murderous piece of human waste. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/150 "2019-06-19T16:48:08Z")
ISTM that most of the perpetrators of the mass shootings die either during or right after the incident. Thus, they gain no notoriety when their name is published. The results of describing the graphic carnage of such an incident is going to be the same whether or not the shooter’s name is revealed. Everybody remembers what happened at Sandy Hook or Vegas, but remembering the names of the shooters is probably a bit more difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/151 "2019-06-19T16:49:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > We are keeping the name of the mass murderer private as we don’t wish to glorify this murderous piece of human waste. And they turn to the channel that doesn’t do this, the one that says “We don’t protect the names of murderers like that other station, because you have the right to know!” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/152 "2019-06-19T16:52:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And they turn to the channel that doesn’t do this, the one that says “We don’t protect the names of murderers like that other station, because you have the right to know!” And they turn to the channel that doesn’t do this, the one that says “We don’t protect the names of rape victims like that other station, because you have the right to know!”:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/153 "2019-06-19T16:54:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And they turn to the channel that doesn’t do this, the one that says “We don’t protect the names of rape victims like that other station, because you have the right to know!”:dubious: Already covered, remember? you can get sympathy(and ratings) for protecting victims-not so much for protecting mass murderers. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/154 "2019-06-19T17:29:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Already covered, remember? you can get sympathy(and ratings) for protecting victims-not so much for protecting mass murderers. You’re not protecting mass murderers. :rolleyes: You are \*\*protecting the American public from more such tragedies. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/155 "2019-06-19T17:35:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You’re not protecting mass murderers. :rolleyes: You are \*\*protecting the American public from more such tragedies. > \*\* The news director that takes this tack will be fired when viewers go elsewhere, and her replacement will rescind the order, so sayeth the stockholders. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/156 "2019-06-19T17:40:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The news director that takes this tack will be fired when viewers go elsewhere, and her replacement will rescind the order, so sayeth the stockholders. Yeah, because of course when\* you\* dont hear the actual name of a mass shooter, \*you \*wont watch that channel anymore, right? ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/157 "2019-06-19T17:43:08Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The news director that takes this tack will be fired when viewers go elsewhere, and her replacement will rescind the order, so sayeth the stockholders. You’re making some pretty big assumptions about the behaviors of a lot of people. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/158 "2019-06-19T17:55:12Z")
Ever hear the phrases “The Firstest with the Mostest” and “If it bleeds, it leads”? News departments are expected to bring in the bucks nowadays, and the stockholders want the news department to make money, so news departments do what it takes to draw the viewers in. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/159 "2019-06-19T17:59:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Ever hear the phrases “The Firstest with the Mostest” and “If it bleeds, it leads”? News departments are expected to bring in the bucks nowadays, and the stockholders want the news department to make money, so news departments do what it takes to draw the viewers in. Like the names of rape victims? So, answer my question, if \*\*your \*\*preferred news venue wont name the mass killer, will **you** switch to another? I wouldnt care. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418/160 "2019-06-19T18:01:23Z")
If anyone can think of a way to implement a “no-name” policy that will convince The Media Powers That Be they that won’t take a soaking when it comes to viewers, that their non-participating competitors won’t profit from such a move, I would love to hear it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-guns-and-more-guns-what-can-america-do-to-reduce-mass-shootings/835418.md?page=9)