126: The Rise of the American Mass Shooter
Red, Blue, and Brady
English - April 23, 2021 11:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MB - ★★★★★ - 32 ratingsCourses Education News Politics gun violence brady gun control politics news shootings mass shooting gun violence take action Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been over 147 mass shootings in America this year.* These mass shootings account for only a tiny percentage of the United State's gun deaths, but nevertheless tend to dominate our news cycles. Two contradictory situations have developed overtime: while many have argued that Americans have become desensitized to the horror of mass shootings, many media scholars have also pointed out the US fascination with mass shooters themselves.
How have Americans become accustomed to these continued killings? What myths have been built up around these murderers, around firearms, and about ourselves? To attempt to answer those questions, veteran journalist Seamus McGraw joins hosts Kelly and JJ to discuss his newest book, From a Taller Tower: The Rise of the American Mass Shooter. In his book, Seamus details how mass shooters have developed from the 1966 University of Texas massacre to the 2017 Mandalay Bay massacre in Las Vegas--and how our rhetoric to "explain" them has developed along with them.
*the Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as when four or more people have been shot or killed, not including the shooter.
Mentioned in this podcast:
From a Taller Tower: the Rise of the American Mass Shooter (University of Texas Press)
The terrible numbers that grow with each mass shooting (the Washington Post)
Here's Why You Can Shut Out the Shock of Mass Shootings (Time)
What America keeps getting wrong about mass shooters (Slate)
Help support the podcast and Brady's mission by clicking here!
For more information on Brady, follow us on social media
Brady and This Is Our Lane believe we cannot end gun violence until we treat it as the public health issue that it is. Want to help us? Read and sign our letter by clicking here.
Support the showFor more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.
Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.
Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady