Assault Weapons Ban

This data was compiled from Mother Jones' Guide to Mass Shootings in America.  Mother Jones research has focused on seemingly indiscriminate rampages in public places resulting in three or more victims killed.  I've heard often that the assault weapons ban had no impact on public safety.  I'll post the numbers and you can decide for yourself.

	SUM of Fatalities	SUM of Wounded	SUM of Total victims		Sum of Fatalities prior to Assault Weapons Ban	Sum of Wounded Prior to Assault Weapons Ban	Sum of Total Victims Prior to Assault Weapons Ban	12 years
1982	8	3	11	Prior	161	185	346
1984	28	20	48	Prior
1986	15	6	21	Prior
1987	6	14	20	Prior
1988	7	4	11	Prior
1989	15	41	56	Prior
1990	10	4	14	Prior
1991	35	26	61	Prior
1992	9	10	19	Prior
1993	23	34	57	Prior
1994	5	23	28	Enacted September 13, 1994	Sum of Fatalities during Assault Weapons Ban	Sum of Wounded during Assault Weapons Ban	Sum of Total Victims during Assault Weapons Ban	10 years
1995	6	0	6	During	101	108	209
1996	6	1	7	During
1997	9	5	14	During
1998	14	36	50	During
1999	42	47	89	During
2000	7	0	7	During
2001	5	4	9	During
2003	7	8	15	During
2004	5	7	12	Expired September 13, 2004	Sum of Fatalities since expiration of Assault Weapons Ban	Sum of Wounded since expiration of Assault Weapons Ban	Sum of Total Victims since expiration of Assault Weapons Ban	12 years
2005	17	9	26	After	406	354	760
2006	21	7	28	After
2007	54	32	86	After
2008	18	24	42	After
2009	39	38	77	After
2010	9	2	11	After
2011	19	21	40	After
2012	72	68	140	After
2013	35	13	48	After
2014	18	28	46	After
2015	46	43	89	After
2016	58	69	127	After
Grand Total	668	647	1315

I'm not going to assert that a one variable equation is the only difference in these numbers.  I'm not going to pretend that there are not deeper societal problems that contribute.  But when I just look at the numbers, I think an assault weapon ban can only be viewed as a step in the right direction.

When one group (gun owners) has the power to force their will on the entire nation with this kind of data indicating a real threat to public safety, something is significantly out of balance.

Look at the data.  Here is a link to the full data set: Mother Jones Mass Shootings Database

If the data moves you as it does me, contact your senators and congressman.  Silence is acceptance. 

And for me, this is unacceptable.