Rampage Nation

Securing America from Mass Shootings

By: Louis Klarevas

Narrated by: Christopher Price

In the past decade, no individual act of violence has killed more people in the United States than the mass shooting. This well-researched, forcefully argued book answers some of the most pressing questions facing our society: Why do people go on killing sprees? Are gun-free zones magnets for deadly rampages? What can we do to curb the carnage of this disturbing form of firearm violence?

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the author shows that gun possession often prods aggrieved, mentally unstable individuals to go on shooting sprees, these attacks largely occur in places where guns are not prohibited by law, and sensible gun-control measures like the federal Assault Weapons Ban - which helped drastically reduce rampage violence when it was in effect - are instrumental to keeping Americans safe from mass shootings in the future.

To stem gun massacres, the author proposes several original policy prescriptions, ranging from the enactment of sensible firearm safety reforms to an overhaul of how the justice system investigates potential active-shooter threats and prosecutes violent crimes. Calling attention to the growing problem of mass shootings, Rampage Nation demonstrates that this unique form of gun violence is more than just a criminal justice offense or public health scourge. It is a threat to American security.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2016 Louis Klarevas (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Depressing, but Inciteful Facts we should all know

Klarevas describes the Trinity of Violence, explaining how it involves three aspects of Mass Shootings which includes The Perpetrator, The Target, and The Weapon and how all three contribute to the ongoing issue to this day!

Looking at mass shootings through these frameworks he explores how there is often a pattern with these incidents leading up to the shooting as well as the response during the aftermath.

This audiobook is an interesting listen for those on either side of the gun debate, as it puts the issue of Mass Shooting in a statistical and pschyogical point of view.

Well researched and written

This is a very well researched book that directly refutes many popular media narratives about the topic. It is very fair. Highly suggested.

With Mass Shootings Almost a Weekly Occurrence, everyone needs to read this book.

Rampage Nation is certainly not a light read, but a very necessary one for all of us. Dr. Klarevas focuses on the problem of mass shootings in American society, skillfully using case studies such as the Virginia Tech massacre of 2007 and the Aurora Theater shooting of 2012 to paint a grim picture of how the availability of military grade weapons and disturbed individuals leads to life changing and life ending tragedy for ordinary people caught up in the madness. He takes on the "good guy with a gun" theory that is being peddled about and demonstrates that this idea, while sounding good in 30 second sound bites, has no basis in fact. He offers common sense prescriptions for the problem that protect American gun owner rights while also greatly enhancing public safety.

Essential Reading

This is the most clearly researched, detailed and open discussion of American mass violence I've read.

Though this book makes a clear argument for certain regulations and restrictions, it seems to avoid any political allegiance. It challenges the research, myths and proposals of think tanks, magazines and well known authors on both sides of the debate.

The author establishes clearer definitions and rules for building a more comprehensive data set regarding mass shootings and rampage violence than those that have come before. He explores several cases in extreme detail. The evolution of firearm technology is explored and shows how each evolution changes the game for the worst.

This is a very thought out case for ten steps as detailed by the author for closing loopholes in existing legislation, restricting certain technology and creating certain changes to the judicial system that would ultimately gain control over rampage violence.

1 major issue

In chapter 9 Klarevas erroneously claims that closing the gun show loophole would've prevented Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold from attaining the weapons used in the Columbine Massacre.

This claim is either ignorant or intentionally dishonest. All but 1 of the guns were purchased by Robin Anderson. She was 18 at the time which made her the legal age to buy them and she had no disqualifying factors. So even if she had gone to a gun store which would've required a background check to make the purchase, she still would've been able to aquire them.

As such, despite the author's claim, closing the gun show loophole would NOT have prevented them from obtaining the weapons they used.