Is there an epidemic of gun violence in America?

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Over these past five days of discussion as -- emerge as to what we might do not only to deter mass shootings in the future.

But to reduce the epidemic.

Gun violence that -- this country every single day.

The president yesterday looking for solutions to gun violence in the wake of the new town shooting.

Is there an epidemic of gun violence in this country.

And is getting worse and important questions for us today according to the Associated Press criminologists who have studied -- meetings.

Believe there is no real pattern or increase in recent your ears again according to.

The national innings.

One criminologist -- do we tell the Associated Press his research shows -- shootings rose in this country between 191990s.

They have dropped in the recent decade.

FBI data -- deadly shootings in general seems to follow a very similar pattern.

And that said although mass shootings may actually be less frequent and again there's a lot of numbers out there.

One of the facts is also out there is that -- -- more deadly half of the deadliest mass shootings in this country.

Had taken place over the last five years.

About the cocky is author of murders most -- and the school shooters in our message has done extensive research on this her back and it's important that.

In this decision emotional story new town that we wanted to take -- A brief moment to talk about some of the facts when it comes to school shootings so that we can prepare to make whatever decisions we need to make had.

What are some facts that you come across as seen consistent in the school shootings that -- -- at.

Well it seems sometimes that this is immune from it struck in the late eighties and and went through him -- but in fact the first school -- with in 1927.

It was at school board member who detonated the local elementary school in bath township mean.

Killing 37.

Students children elementary school children.

And seven adults so that makes it the single most deadly school massacre ever in America far more than Virginia Tech.

Hill no matter how you we look at the frequencies whenever there is a school shooting.

It it rocks is at the core and -- now Brett this question about what should we do and and that's that's the big question for us today but when you think about your research what kind of what rises to the surface is some other patterns that you might seem school shooting.

Yes the FBI spent a long time trying to compile a school -- profile.

And what they came up with with a -- description of the typical young -- Now politically now it was useless.

So what hit the Secret Service in 2002.

-- a steady and realized that -- 1%.

The perpetrators have massacre at school had told them.

Before him what they were about to they had talent they had -- acted the way telling and top secret right.

-- it.

Typically these are not impulsive actions and very well planned come -- and for example was kind of -- -- -- Virginia Tech was planned for a long enough for them.

For some he -- to prepare and asked them.

To prepare videotapes to -- to NBC.

That's the pattern is that you know well planned and during the planning -- The perpetrators is so filled with emotion.

He counts but even some -- tells many people and fat.

Gives us information we need and the timing -- to stop -- it without their so so obviously.

Why couldn't -- why couldn't they -- -- Partly I think there's a code among children to not turn each -- and when I don't think she'll tell and a threat and nobody wants to get cattle -- But also I think that things like zero tolerance policies in schools getting the win.

Because.

Let's say we're on the playground and you say I'm so -- I could kill some.

I know you're kidding but what if you're not and I tell the school counselor.

You can be expelled whether or not you -- And so that actually works it works again at worst.

-- splendid studies we don't know in this case about what if anything.

This this killer told anyone we don't but based on again your research quickly -- it will wait what do you what's the suggestion you come -- way as something that should be done okay.

-- -- -- Very closely into what the FBI -- with the FBI saying thank you very good sense which is we need to train.

Teachers school counselors and community mental health providers and law enforcement.

How to identify the threats that that kids won't.

And how to separate the wheat from the -- so they're not chasing every silly threat.

But they know.

They get.

They get committees together -- council's law enforcer teachers.

So that you know each kid from several angles and you know what to do with that kid so.

We'll see if that's that comes up in the president's task force that he's putting together for the new year Rebecca nice to have you with I think -- yeah.

Thank you -- this time we'll be right.

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Is there an epidemic of gun violence in America?

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