untold tragedies

U.S. Underreports Mass Killings

Over 200 since 2006.

Mass shootings like those at Newtown or Virginia Tech are well-known to the American public. What is less well-known is the prevalence of mass killings, defined by the FBI as four or more victims, which a USA Today investigative report shows happens more often than the government reports. With more than 200 mass killings since 2006, there is roughly one every two weeks in the United States. Perhaps even worse, the investigation revealed that far too many of the killings were the result of what they called a "failed safety net." Inadequate protective orders (like a restraining order), poor mental-health facilities, toothless gun control, and immigration snafus are often at the root of the murders.