One American out of 15 was on the scene of a mass shooting

About 7% of adults, 1 out of 15, in United States He found himself in spite of himself on the scene of a mass shooting During their life and over 2% he was injured during one of these. These are the alarming data that emerged from a new research from the University of Colorado Boulder, the United States, published in Jama Network Open that highlights the wide scope of the phenomenon, the implications for the affected people, the also psychic and psychological as well as physical implications.

“Accidental victims” of these events, according to the study, they would be above all the younger generations with a significantly higher risk of exposure than their parents or grandparents. Among those at greatest risk the Generation that is, adults born after 1996. The mass shootings, in America, would not be isolated tragedies, but reality that can involve a substantial part of the population, requesting the need for interventions and support for the most affected groups to restore the deep psychological wounds.

The phenomenon was investigated by researchers through interviews conducted in January 2024 to a national representative sample of 10,000 adults to estimate the possibility of these people to be in the middle of a mass shooting, defined as a crime related to firearms with involvement of four or more people in a public space.

It emerged that just under 7% of the interviewees assisted you at least once and that just over 2% was injured by splinters or was trampled on people fleeing the scene or has undergone other wounds. Furthermore, it turned out that Blacks and men were more likely to have witnessed a mass shooting, with a high probability occurred in the last decade.

In addition, three quarters of the interviewees would have experienced mass shootings in their local communities, in places such as bars or restaurants, schools, shopping centers and synagogues. The income and level of education of the interviewees did not significantly affect the possibilities of being present or injured in a mass shooting.

Although the consequences on mental health were not calculated, about three quarters of those who were present on the scene of a mass shooting, remained unharmed, however, they would have experienced a psychological distress, including fear, anxiety and depression. The hope of the researchers is that the study can contribute to drawing attention to the public health aspects of the phenomenon of mass shootings, relatively new and little studied, and that programs are started to reduce armed violence and strengthen support to those suffering from persistent exposure effects.