An Investigation of Mass Public Shooting Attacks Against Government Targets in the United States

Bibliographic Data

ID12407759
AuthorsJoel A Capellan (0000-0002-0816-5876, Law and Justice Studies, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA, corresponding author), Jason R Silva (0000-0001-9544-9780, City University of New York)
Year2019
Volume44
Issue5
Pages387-409
Publication date2019-01-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueStudies in Conflict and Terrorism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1057-610X • E-ISSN: 1521-0731
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1057610x.2018.1551294
OpenAlexW2906770550
LanguageEN
Citations received5

The current study examines mass public shooters who target government agents and institutions in the United States. This research uses a rational choice perspective to examine the incidence, motivations, and target selection. Additionally, this work provides an in-depth investigation of ideological attacks, as well as a comparison against general mass public shooting perpetrator, planning, and incident characteristics. Results indicate non-ideological attacks against government targets occur more than ideologically motivated shootings. Importantly, the majority of ideologically motivated mass public shooters do not attack government targets. These findings provide implications for security, policy, and prevention strategies that have historically focused on ideologically motivated mass public shootings against government targets

Computer security · Criminology · Government (linguistics · Ideology · Perspective (graphical · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Public security · Sociology · Computer Science · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Law · Psychology · Public Administration · Artificial Intelligence

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