Mass public killings in perspective

On the heels of the Aurora, CO massacre, a study has revealed that mass public killings account for less than 1% of total murders in general.
In fact, not even 0.5% of total murders.   It's 0.1% according to Grant Duwe of the Minnesota Department of Corrections. 

Now why is this important?  It's important because both pro- and anti-gun control advocates are using the tragedy to further their own agenda.  And the media is facilitating them by sensationalizing this horrific, violent act. 

When you listen to the media sometimes (and Fox News is equally guilty), you get the feeling that they want to make it seem like America is a gun-toting, hungry-for-violence country and that a massacre like the one seen at the Dark Knight premiere is all-too-common. 

Let's be clear:  when a homicide takes place, it is an isolated and awful event.  The same goes for this cowardly attack on innocent movie-goers, albeit on a much greater/horrific scale. 

There are millions of people who are capable of watching violent movies or owning guns and never turning a gun on people.  There are maybe 10 people who will inflict massacres in the span of 3-5 years. 

It would be very difficult to set policy based on a very small and radical minority of people.  But I'm sure it will be attempted. 

But that's not to say that nothing should happen.  Greater security may have to be looked into. 

The key is not to get strung up in the high emotions of a very sensational event like the Aurora, CO massacre.   That has never been the recipe for good decision-making.