ABSTRACT
Public mass shootings, sometimes referred to as “active shootings” or “rampage shootings,” are an unusual type of homicide. There is a lack of consistency in the criteria used to define an event as a mass shooting or mass murder. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) definition of a mass shooting also excludes shootings that are motivated by gang- or drug-related violence. In the United States over the past nearly two decades, narcissistic rage and, even more notably, narcissistic injuries appear to be the “common thread” in terms of the motivating factors in many mass shooters. It is clear that all mass shooters are different in terms of their psychology, life experience, motivation and the nature of attack they perpetrate. Despite increasing levels of awareness concerning child pornography and hate speech, there is no such increased awareness with mass shooters who use the internet to publish their violent intentions (e.g., through blog posts and comments on forums).
