Up to 370 mass shooting events by October 15; americans respond after each with the same surge in gun purchases

Oregon school shooting renews debate

School shootings have become a recurring part of American life, and each tragedy renews debate over gun laws. The article notes that the Second Amendment protects gun rights in the United States.

Mass shooting figures and definition

By October 15, as many as 370 mass shooting events had taken place that year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Its definition counts incidents in which four or more people are injured or killed, excluding the shooter. The article also gives figures for earlier years: 414 events in 2019, compared with 335 in 2018 and 346 in 2017.

Research links attacks to purchases

Most purchases, the study authors said, came from existing gun owners buying additional weapons. They suggested that concern about possible gun-control measures could help explain the stockpiling, while academics also cited uncertainty and anxiety about future attacks.

Other sources of uncertainty

Research cited in the article suggests gun purchases may also rise after international terrorism events and unexpected election results, at least in California, according to Prof. Studdert. A 2019 study found sales increased after the 2001 World Trade Center attacks, but warned that fear of an attack does not always lead to more gun buying.

A 2015 study found demand rose with the likelihood of Barack Obama winning the 2008 election. Its authors suggested that concerns about a future Obama gun-control policy partly drove the increase.

Pandemic-era sales and later decline

Gun sales reached 23 million in 2020, a 65 per cent rise from 2019. The 15.5 million sold last year was four per cent below 2024, but remained above the 2010–2019 average of around 13 million legally sold each year, according to the FBI.