The topic of guns is pervasive in American politics. It’s also poignant and partisan. So, let’s examine the contentious issue that could potentially determine the outcome of this year’s election.This is a four-part series, breaking down the data, root causes, solutions and political implications of guns and gun violence in America. Read Part 1 here. This is Part 2: Looking at the root causes of gun violence.Jillian Peterson, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Hamline University, explained that it’s hard to pinpoint just one root cause for gun violence in the U.S.”It’s a very big, complex question,” Peterson said. “I can talk about it at different levels.”Peterson, who is the co-founder of The Violence Project, a nonprofit violence prevention research center, said that one source of gun violence is the culture around and access to firearms. “We have a long history of that culture of guns. It’s very embedded in our societal identity,” Peterson said. “And then just the sheer number of guns – having more guns than people in this country just means there is more opportunity.”Another key driver, the forensic psychologist said, is the widespread socialization and personal exposure to violence, particularly at a young age.”I do a lot of interviewing with perpetrators of gun violence, and they’ll talk about carrying guns at the age of 8 and 10 years old,” Peterson said.A study published by the American Psychological Association states that “childhood trauma exposure may contribute to gun violence due to the development of altered views regarding violence, which, combined with situational variables, may result in violent behavior.”The study adds that children who experience that kind of violence may develop “inaccurate perceptions regarding the likelihood of being a victim as well as aggression-related cognitive biases.”Economic conditions also play a role in gun violence. During the spike in gun violence between 2019 and 2020, U.S. counties with the highest poverty levels saw a higher increase in firearm homicides compared to counties with the lowest poverty levels. Relating to income inequality, gentrified neighborhoods have a 62% higher firearm injury rate than non-gentrified neighborhoods, according to a 2023 study published in JAMA Surgery.Underfunded education, social services and housing are other socioeconomic factors that can spur higher rates of gun violence in communities.The direct link between gun violence and economic conditions is complex, but it is theorized that poorer conditions increase exposure to toxic stress and relationship conflict and weaken the mechanisms of social control, which inflames violent actions.Video above: Jillian Peterson on the state of gun violence in AmericaIt’s also important to note the racial disparity in gun violence.Black people in the U.S. are more than 11 ½ times more likely to be victims of firearm homicide compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, the firearm murder rate for Hispanic people in the U.S. is more than double the non-Hispanic white rate.One of the more stark statistics: In 2022, according to the CDC, more Black males ages 15 to 24 died in gun homicides than the next 15 causes of death combined.Racial identity, in and of itself, is not a cause of gun violence. Rather, as many studies show, the racial disparity is an amplification of the association between economic conditions and gun violence.”Research shows that high rates of gun violence seen today have been forged by past and present racial discrimination, including historic racial segregation and disinvestment,” according to Giffords Law Center, a nonprofit gun control advocacy group. “As gun violence plagues these communities, it leads to diminished economic opportunities and a lack of investment, creating a vicious cycle.”Finally, one more aspect of gun violence that’s frequently talked about is mental health. Its most prominent role is in relation to suicide.According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 90% of people who die by suicide have an underlying mental health condition, and CDC data shows that a majority of suicides in the U.S. are carried out by firearm. Further, a suicide attempt with a firearm results in death nearly 85% of the time, while other means of attempting suicide, including overdose and cutting, result in death less than 3% of the time.”Suicide is often a split-second decision made by a person in acute crisis, and most people who survive a suicide attempt go on to live a long, healthy life,” Giffords Law Center wrote on its website. “Because guns are so widely available and so deadly, they contribute to suicide rates far more than other means.”Generally, proponents of gun rights point to mental illness as the main driving force behind all forms of gun violence. “We as a state, we as a society need to do a better job with mental health,” Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said following the May 2022 Uvalde school shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers. “Anybody who shoots somebody else has a mental health challenge. Period. We as a government need to find a way to target that mental health challenge and to do something about it.”Former CEO of the National Rifle Association Wayne LaPierre echoed those statements. “The facts tell us the violence in our nation is not due to the age of law-abiding gun owners or their ability to lawfully access firearms,” LaPierre said in the aftermath of Uvalde as well as the Buffalo grocery store shooting that killed 10 people. “These heinous incidents are due to the acts of deranged, sick individuals. Any suggestion to the contrary is a disservice to those who have suffered the consequences of gun violence.”Roughly 14 million Americans live with a serious mental illness (SMI), such as bipolar disorder, major depression or schizophrenia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.However, an overwhelming majority of people with mental illness are not violent. And actually, a majority of gun violence is not committed by people with mental illness.Around 3% of gun violence can be attributed to people with an SMI. Additionally, just 1 in 5 mass shootings are carried out by people with an SMI. If serious mental illnesses were completely eliminated from the U.S., more than 90% of violent incidents, including homicides, would still occur.”There are no specific symptoms of mental illness that are a precursor to (gun violence),” Dr. Jillian Peterson said.Video above: Jillian Peterson on the early warning signs, role of mental health for mass shootersPeterson emphasized that there is not a direct link between mental illness and a disposition to commit gun violence. However, Peterson explained a person’s mental state should not be dismissed when examining why gun violence occurs.”We know that people engage in gun violence during times of crisis when they are feeling kind of hopeless, or they’re in despair,” Peterson said. “And there’s just that element of people being quick to react, being impulsive. Most gun violence is not well-planned out. It’s an impulsive act.”She specifically referenced past mass shooters, highlighting certain warning signs, such as feelings of hopelessness, despair and isolation, depression, radicalization, sudden shifts in behavior, and ideation and attempts of suicide. Peterson said that it’s crucial to recognize when a person’s mental state is accentuated by other aforementioned factors, including access to guns and exposure to violence. “We know that mental illness is not a risk factor for violence. But also, no one who does this is a mentally healthy person,” Peterson said. “So it’s this kind of mental unwellness manifesting itself in all different ways.”Peterson added that the biggest mistake is to not safely intervene when it becomes clear that a person’s mental state is elevating to a potential threat.”These are individuals. They weren’t born as little evil babies, right? They started somewhere and they developed into the people who engaged in this horrific violence,” Peterson said. “And so how do we deeply understand that pathway from a psychological perspective so we can start intervening?”
The topic of guns is pervasive in American politics. It’s also poignant and partisan.
So, let’s examine the contentious issue that could potentially determine the outcome of this year’s election.
This is a four-part series, breaking down the data, root causes, solutions and political implications of guns and gun violence in America. Read Part 1 here.
This is Part 2: Looking at the root causes of gun violence.
Jillian Peterson, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Hamline University, explained that it’s hard to pinpoint just one root cause for gun violence in the U.S.
“It’s a very big, complex question,” Peterson said. “I can talk about it at different levels.”
Peterson, who is the co-founder of The Violence Project, a nonprofit violence prevention research center, said that one source of gun violence is the culture around and access to firearms.
“We have a long history of that culture of guns. It’s very embedded in our societal identity,” Peterson said. “And then just the sheer number of guns – having more guns than people in this country just means there is more opportunity.”
Another key driver, the forensic psychologist said, is the widespread socialization and personal exposure to violence, particularly at a young age.
“I do a lot of interviewing with perpetrators of gun violence, and they’ll talk about carrying guns at the age of 8 and 10 years old,” Peterson said.
A study published by the American Psychological Association states that “childhood trauma exposure may contribute to gun violence due to the development of altered views regarding violence, which, combined with situational variables, may result in violent behavior.”
The study adds that children who experience that kind of violence may develop “inaccurate perceptions regarding the likelihood of being a victim as well as aggression-related cognitive biases.”
Economic conditions also play a role in gun violence. During the spike in gun violence between 2019 and 2020, U.S. counties with the highest poverty levels saw a higher increase in firearm homicides compared to counties with the lowest poverty levels.
Relating to income inequality, gentrified neighborhoods have a 62% higher firearm injury rate than non-gentrified neighborhoods, according to a 2023 study published in JAMA Surgery.
Underfunded education, social services and housing are other socioeconomic factors that can spur higher rates of gun violence in communities.
The direct link between gun violence and economic conditions is complex, but it is theorized that poorer conditions increase exposure to toxic stress and relationship conflict and weaken the mechanisms of social control, which inflames violent actions.
Video above: Jillian Peterson on the state of gun violence in America
It’s also important to note the racial disparity in gun violence.
Black people in the U.S. are more than 11 ½ times more likely to be victims of firearm homicide compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, the firearm murder rate for Hispanic people in the U.S. is more than double the non-Hispanic white rate.
One of the more stark statistics: In 2022, according to the CDC, more Black males ages 15 to 24 died in gun homicides than the next 15 causes of death combined.
Racial identity, in and of itself, is not a cause of gun violence. Rather, as many studies show, the racial disparity is an amplification of the association between economic conditions and gun violence.
“Research shows that high rates of gun violence seen today have been forged by past and present racial discrimination, including historic racial segregation and disinvestment,” according to Giffords Law Center, a nonprofit gun control advocacy group. “As gun violence plagues these communities, it leads to diminished economic opportunities and a lack of investment, creating a vicious cycle.”
Finally, one more aspect of gun violence that’s frequently talked about is mental health. Its most prominent role is in relation to suicide.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 90% of people who die by suicide have an underlying mental health condition, and CDC data shows that a majority of suicides in the U.S. are carried out by firearm. Further, a suicide attempt with a firearm results in death nearly 85% of the time, while other means of attempting suicide, including overdose and cutting, result in death less than 3% of the time.
“Suicide is often a split-second decision made by a person in acute crisis, and most people who survive a suicide attempt go on to live a long, healthy life,” Giffords Law Center wrote on its website. “Because guns are so widely available and so deadly, they contribute to suicide rates far more than other means.”
Generally, proponents of gun rights point to mental illness as the main driving force behind all forms of gun violence.
“We as a state, we as a society need to do a better job with mental health,” Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said following the May 2022 Uvalde school shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers. “Anybody who shoots somebody else has a mental health challenge. Period. We as a government need to find a way to target that mental health challenge and to do something about it.”
Former CEO of the National Rifle Association Wayne LaPierre echoed those statements.
“The facts tell us the violence in our nation is not due to the age of law-abiding gun owners or their ability to lawfully access firearms,” LaPierre said in the aftermath of Uvalde as well as the Buffalo grocery store shooting that killed 10 people. “These heinous incidents are due to the acts of deranged, sick individuals. Any suggestion to the contrary is a disservice to those who have suffered the consequences of gun violence.”
Roughly 14 million Americans live with a serious mental illness (SMI), such as bipolar disorder, major depression or schizophrenia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
However, an overwhelming majority of people with mental illness are not violent. And actually, a majority of gun violence is not committed by people with mental illness.
Around 3% of gun violence can be attributed to people with an SMI. Additionally, just 1 in 5 mass shootings are carried out by people with an SMI. If serious mental illnesses were completely eliminated from the U.S., more than 90% of violent incidents, including homicides, would still occur.
“There are no specific symptoms of mental illness that are a precursor to (gun violence),” Dr. Jillian Peterson said.
Video above: Jillian Peterson on the early warning signs, role of mental health for mass shooters
Peterson emphasized that there is not a direct link between mental illness and a disposition to commit gun violence. However, Peterson explained a person’s mental state should not be dismissed when examining why gun violence occurs.
“We know that people engage in gun violence during times of crisis when they are feeling kind of hopeless, or they’re in despair,” Peterson said. “And there’s just that element of people being quick to react, being impulsive. Most gun violence is not well-planned out. It’s an impulsive act.”
She specifically referenced past mass shooters, highlighting certain warning signs, such as feelings of hopelessness, despair and isolation, depression, radicalization, sudden shifts in behavior, and ideation and attempts of suicide.
Peterson said that it’s crucial to recognize when a person’s mental state is accentuated by other aforementioned factors, including access to guns and exposure to violence.
“We know that mental illness is not a risk factor for violence. But also, no one who does this is a mentally healthy person,” Peterson said. “So it’s this kind of mental unwellness manifesting itself in all different ways.”
Peterson added that the biggest mistake is to not safely intervene when it becomes clear that a person’s mental state is elevating to a potential threat.
“These are individuals. They weren’t born as little evil babies, right? They started somewhere and they developed into the people who engaged in this horrific violence,” Peterson said. “And so how do we deeply understand that pathway from a psychological perspective so we can start intervening?”
