Mass Shootings in the United States

Rosanna Smart, Rachel Nesbit, Terry L. Schell

ResearchPublished Jan 29, 2026

The authors describe approaches for defining a mass shooting, discuss how using these definitions can influence estimates of mass shooting levels and trends, then summarize findings from the literature regarding the characteristics of mass shootings and how mass shooting incidents affect individuals and communities. They conclude by discussing methodological challenges for evaluating how gun policies affect mass shootings.

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Smart, Rosanna, Rachel Nesbit, and Terry L. Schell, Mass Shootings in the United States. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2026. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA4360-3.html.
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