Report: Half of US Mass Attacks Started by Personal, Workplace Disputes

Report: Half of US Mass Attacks Started by Personal, Workplace Disputes

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 report was released Wednesday by the U.S. Secret Service's National Threat Assessment¹ Center.

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.

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 noted² 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 immediate³ 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 hatred⁴ 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. Democrats⁵ are calling for more gun control measures, while Republicans' calls center on mental health and increased security.

Last June, the U.S. Supreme⁶ 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.

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

1 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。