What is a mass killer? It is an individual who kills in a place, usually public, at least four people without having a specific target with a firearm in less than 24 hours.

These killers are 96% male with an average age of 26. Their motivations are varied, although hatred is an often reported element. It is then essentially projected onto a category of individuals, namely women, racialized people and LGBTQ people. Some target primary and secondary schools, places they attend or have attended.

Are they mad?

Explanations for acting out are multifactorial (bullying at school, loneliness, drug use, supremacist ideology, racism, etc.). There are no simple causes and madness does not explain everything. In fact, American studies that have looked at this phenomenon estimate that the prevalence of diagnosed mental illnesses is around 23%.

The majority of mass killers are therefore “sane” and for the most part, they plan their attack. With the advent of social networks, many let their intentions be known and go so far as to film themselves in action. For example, on May 14, Payton Gendron killed 10 African Americans in Buffalo while broadcasting his assault live on Twitch.

Greater prevalence in the United States

When we compare ourselves, we console ourselves. In Canada, there were 13 mass shootings (51 dead and 90 injured) from 1984 to 2018, compared to the United States which, according to the Gun Violence Archive, recorded more than 200 shootings with at least 4 victims (killed or injured) since the start of 2022. As for the FBI, it reports 61 shootings involving an active shooter or more in 2021, an increase of 52% compared to 2020.

Are our southern neighbors more violent than us? Of course not.

With respect to mass killers, the observed statistical difference between Canada and the United States is largely explained by gun control. Indeed, the majority of these killers tend to perpetrate their crime with legal weapons. This was the case of the six firearms of the Quebec mosque killer, the Beretta CX4 Storm of the Dawson College killer and the shooter from Uvalde, Texas, who acquired two military weapons on his 18th birthday.

The numbers speak for themselves: a system that facilitates and values ​​the purchase of firearms by civilians presents a higher risk of shootings on its territory. Which is the case of the United States.

However, it should be noted that in Canada, the majority of recorded shootings are perpetrated by criminal groups and, although necessary, the control of legal weapons does nothing to resolve this situation, since they use illegal weapons, of which nearly 80% come from the United States.

Wouldn't it be better to better protect our porous borders?