Moral Responses to the Great Mass Murders of Our Century

Discontents ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 251-270
Author(s):  
Paul Hollander
Keyword(s):  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Gary Brucato ◽  
Paul S. Appelbaum ◽  
Hannah Hesson ◽  
Eileen A. Shea ◽  
Gabriella Dishy ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Mass shootings account for a small fraction of annual worldwide murders, yet disproportionately affect society and influence policy. Evidence suggesting a link between mass shootings and severe mental illness (i.e. involving psychosis) is often misrepresented, generating stigma. Thus, the actual prevalence constitutes a key public health concern. Methods We examined global personal-cause mass murders from 1900 to 2019, amassed by review of 14 785 murders publicly described in English in print or online, and collected information regarding perpetrator, demographics, legal history, drug use and alcohol misuse, and history of symptoms of psychiatric or neurologic illness using standardized methods. We distinguished whether firearms were or were not used, and, if so, the type (non-automatic v. semi- or fully-automatic). Results We identified 1315 mass murders, 65% of which involved firearms. Lifetime psychotic symptoms were noted among 11% of perpetrators, consistent with previous reports, including 18% of mass murderers who did not use firearms and 8% of those who did (χ2 = 28.0, p < 0.01). US-based mass shooters were more likely to have legal histories, use recreational drugs or misuse alcohol, or have histories of non-psychotic psychiatric or neurologic symptoms. US-based mass shooters with symptoms of any psychiatric or neurologic illness more frequently used semi-or fully-automatic firearms. Conclusions These results suggest that policies aimed at preventing mass shootings by focusing on serious mental illness, characterized by psychotic symptoms, may have limited impact. Policies such as those targeting firearm access, recreational drug use and alcohol misuse, legal history, and non-psychotic psychopathology might yield more substantial results.


1897 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-549
Author(s):  
M. Gaster

More marvellous and more remarkable than the real conquests of Alexander are the stories circulated about him, and the legends which have clustered round his name and his exploits. The history of Alexander has, from a very early period, been embellished with legends and tales. They spread from nation to nation during the whole of the ancient times, and all through the Middle Ages. Many scholars have followed up the course of this dissemination of the fabulous history of Alexander. It would, therefore, be idle repetition of work admirably done by men like Zacher, Wesselofsky, Budge, and others, should I attempt it here. All interested in the legend of Alexander are familiar with those works, where also the fullest bibliographical information is to be found. I am concerned here with what may have appeared to some of these students as the bye-paths of the legend, and which, to my mind, has not received that attention which is due to it, from more than one point of view. Hitherto the histories of Alexander were divided into two categories; the first were those writings which pretended to give a true historical description of his life and adventures, to the exclusion of fabulous matter; the other included all those fabulous histories in which the true elements were smothered under a great mass of legendary matter, the chief representative of this class being the work ascribed to a certain Callisthenes. The study of the legend centred in the study of the vicissitudes to which this work of (Pseudo-) Callisthenes had been exposed, in the course of its dissemination from the East, probably from its native country, Egypt, to the countries of the West.


1886 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 359-367
Author(s):  
J. H. Collins

My argument that at Porthalla there is a “passage” from hornblende-schist to serpentine; or rather that some beds of a common series have been changed into serpentine, others into hornblende-schist, and others again into a substance of intermediate character, is, I think, much strengthened by the fact that many such “apparent passages” are admitted to exist by all those who have examined the Lizard Coast with any degree of detail. De la Beche's description of that seen near the Lizard Town is as follows, and it would apply equally well to the others. “The hornblende slate,” he says, “supports the great mass of the Lizard serpentine with an apparent passage of the one into the other in many places—an apparent passage somewhat embarrassing,” that is, from his point of view; from mine it is perfectly natural. He goes on to say: “Whatever the cause of this apparent passage may have been, it is very readily seen at Mullion Cove, at Pradanack Point, at the coast west of Lizard Town, and at several places on the east coast between Landewednack and Kennick Cove, more especially under the Balk … and at the remarkable cavern and open cavity named the Frying-Pan, near Cadgwith.” At Kynance some of the laminse of serpentine are not more than one-tenth of an inch in thickness for considerable distances.


Author(s):  
Rebecca Moore

This chapter examines violent outbursts perpetrated by New Religious Movements (NRMs) and considers the competing and complementary theories that have arisen to explain them. It argues that theories about cult violence change as new data become available. Public perceptions of cults and a shifting religious-political landscape also shape theoretical considerations of religion and violence. The chapter notes that prior to the mass murders-suicides in Jonestown, Guyana, and immediately following, theories of violence focused on inwardly-directed coercion and control. The demise of the Branch Davidians in 1993, along with other eruptions of violence in the 1990s, challenged this perspective, and a theory of interaction between external and internal forces arose. The events of September 11, 2001 internationalized considerations of religious violence, and returned attention to the influence of apocalyptic worldviews. A pressing problem that has emerged most recently is the violence perpetrated against NRMs, particularly state-sponsored repression.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 212
Author(s):  
Robert John Zagar ◽  
Agata Karolina Zagar ◽  
Kenneth G. Busch ◽  
James Garbarino ◽  
Terry Ferrari ◽  
...  

<p>The goal is to share policy implications of sensitive, specific internet-based tests in place of current approaches to lowering violence, namely fewer mass murders, suicides, homicides. When used, internet-based tests save lives and money. From 2009-2015, a Chicago field test had 324 fewer homicides (saving $2,089,848,548, <em>ROI</em>=6.42). In 60 yrs., conventional approaches for high risk persons (e.g.,. inappropriately releasing poor, severely mentally ill) led to unnecessary expense including yearly: (a) 300 mass murders (59% demonstrating psychiatric conditions); (b) 1-6% having costly personnel challenges; (c) 2,100,000 “revolving door” Emergency-Room (ER) psychiatric admissions (41,149 suicides, 90% mentally ill); (d) 10,000,000 prisoners (14,146 homicides, 20% psychiatric challenges). Current metrics fail [success rates from 25%-73%: (1) for background checks (25%); (2) interviews (<em>M</em>=46%); (3) physical exams (<em>M</em>=49%); (4) other tests (<em>M</em>=73%)]. Internet-based tests are simultaneously sensitive (97%), specific (97%), non-discriminatory, objective, inexpensive, $100/test, require 2-4 hrs.</p>


The Copley Medal is awarded to Professor S. Chapman, F.R.S. Professor Chapman is distinguished for his contributions to many aspects of physics, astronomy and geophysics. His work on the kinetic theory of gases now forms the basis for much detailed study of gaseous phenomena, and over forty years ago his interest in these problems led him to consider the processes of diffusion and viscosity in stars. In addition to these important studies Chapman’s name has, for over half a century, been inseparably linked with problems in terrestrial magnetism and with a wide range of studies concerned with the high atmosphere, ionosphere and interplanetary space. From a statistical analysis of a great mass of data Chapman succeeded in demonstrating the existence of a small lunar component in the Earth’s quiet magnetic field variations, and he showed that the solar and lunar diurnal variations could be separated into a predominant component originating above the Earth’s surface and a subsidiary component within the Earth itself. From this standpoint he developed the general theory of the relation of the magnetic variations to the solar and lunar atmospheric tidal effects, a theory which has been fundamental to all subsequent work.


1908 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-362
Author(s):  
G. A. Grierson

The great mass of Hindūs of the present day follow, and for nearly five centuries have followed, the religious doctrine of salvation by bhakti, or loving faith. This, although nominally based on the Vēdas and Upaniṣads, is strongly opposed both to the advaita Vedantist doctrine of salvation by knowledge and to the Mīmāṃsā doctrine of salvation by works. Its very idea of salvation, a life of never-ending bliss near the Holy One, is radically different from that offered by these two schools.


2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (01) ◽  
pp. 37-41
Author(s):  
Paul Sharke

This article reviews the battery-powered electric vehicles that are forming a symbiotic relationship with commuter rail. Priced at around $6000, the electric vehicles make little sense for someone who has to get somewhere, when a full-fledged automobile can be had for twice that without any inherent restrictions on use, safety, and range. Perhaps retirees, with eyesight failing and reactions slowing, might be safer in such severely throttled cars. Think City drivers will have to bring their cars to the dealer about every 3,000 miles to have the equivalent of an oil change performed on the battery. The car’s nicad batteries are unsealed, unlike those powering calculators and electric drills, and so they need periodic watering. The average commuter probably is not ready to trade in the well-worn station car for a fancy golf cart, but the little electric cars may just warrant a second look from at least some of the great mass of bleary-eyed riders.


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