SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – As California residents reel from the spate of mass shootings in the last week, the lasting impact could be felt for a long time on affected communities.
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Especially since the recent violent acts happened so close together, in a sort of cluster of events.
"They are happening more than they have in the past," said Dr. Jeff Temple, a professor and licensed psychologist, as well as the Founding Director of the Center for Violence Prevention at the University of Texas, Medical Branch on KCBS Radio's "Ask an Expert" with Eric Thomas and Margie Shafer on Monday.
"We've seen a slow accumulation of these over the past several years," he said.
It's not just shootings, but violence in general. Many have reacted strongly over the course of the last week to the release of footage showing the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols and the attack on Paul Pelosi.
"We are getting inundated with these videos – whether it's police brutality or the Paul Pelosi video, or kids running from their schools – it's going to have an effect on our sense of safety," said Temple.
As a result, people are going to be more aware of their surroundings, be more on their guard, and be more vigilant, which can affect people's mental and physical health.
While it seems as if people behind mass shootings are typically young, white males, the recent attacks show that that might not always be the case.
"These last several shootings have sort of thrown that off," he said. "I worry that gun violence is becoming so rampant now that it’s starting to cross over all the demographics."
There isn't data available to back up this possibility yet, but it could be that gun violence has just become too ubiquitous.
It could be possible that the spate in violence could lead to further attacks, as potential assailants see that this type of action is possible.
"It makes it real in their minds," he said. "It can move from thoughts and intentions to actually doing it."
This sort of phenomenon is common with suicides as well.
While some people might shy away from talking about these issues, it’s critical to understand what factors contribute to people becoming mass shooters.
Former President Barack Obama lifted restrictions on the study of this area following the tragic 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
"Prior to 2013 there was very little known," said Temple. Since then there has been an uptick in funding for firearms research.
"I do think the next decade we're going to be talking more about it and going to be understanding it quite a bit more," he said.
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