Episode 28: Can the Next Mass Shooting Be Prevented?

By: Peter L. Bergen

Narrated by: Peter L. Bergen

Another mass shooting is making headlines in the United States. With it comes the familiar feeling of powerlessness. But a rare peek inside the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit reveals that at least some shootings are being prevented, using techniques to identify people headed down the ‘pathway to violence.’ In the absence of gun reform, agents share what ordinary people can do to help. And a mother recounts the harrowing story of how she discovered her son’s plans to shoot up a school — and what happened next.

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Something still missing

Very strong focus on the specifics allowing people to identify potential problems and how to engage others (family, friends, and authorities) to mitigate the problem. However, the episode never got to the root cause for the increase in mass shootings. People have suffered in various ways for centuries. In the US, guns have been part of the culture since before the founding of the republic. The prime example of Columbine predates social media. So, what is causing the mass increase? Never addressed.