Lone Wolf Terrorist or Deranged Shooter? A Study of Ideological Active Shooter Events in the United States, 1970–2014

Joel A. Capellan

doi:10.1080/1057610X.2015.1008341

Lone Wolf Terrorist or Deranged Shooter? A Study of Ideological Active Shooter Events in the United States, 1970–2014

Joel A. Capellan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study explores the threat of ideological active shooter attacks in the United States. In particular, to understand if these events constitute a new brand of “lone wolf terrorism” or if they are simply “deranged shooters” that happen to be ideological. The results show that ideological and non-ideological active shooters share very similar profiles. Despite the similarities, ideological extremism seems to influence the way these offenders prepare, execute, and conclude their attacks. Most ideological active shooters are “loners” whose attacks tend to be motivated by ideology. Given their sophistication and lethality, ideological active shooters represent a serious threat to national security.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	395-413
Number of pages	19
Journal	Studies in Conflict and Terrorism
Volume	38
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2015.1008341
State	Published - Jun 3 2015
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Sociology and Political Science
Safety Research
Political Science and International Relations

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10.1080/1057610X.2015.1008341

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abstract = "This study explores the threat of ideological active shooter attacks in the United States. In particular, to understand if these events constitute a new brand of {\textquotedblleft}lone wolf terrorism{\textquotedblright} or if they are simply {\textquotedblleft}deranged shooters{\textquotedblright} that happen to be ideological. The results show that ideological and non-ideological active shooters share very similar profiles. Despite the similarities, ideological extremism seems to influence the way these offenders prepare, execute, and conclude their attacks. Most ideological active shooters are {\textquotedblleft}loners{\textquotedblright} whose attacks tend to be motivated by ideology. Given their sophistication and lethality, ideological active shooters represent a serious threat to national security.",

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Lone Wolf Terrorist or Deranged Shooter? A Study of Ideological Active Shooter Events in the United States, 1970–2014

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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