Southern Codes of Violence and Mass Shootings in the United States

• In Event: Guns and Places: Victimization Threats and Vulnerabilities

Abstract

As mass shootings continue to increase in the United States, more research on context is necessary to address this phenomenon. To fill this gap, this study considers the role that southern codes of honor play in facilitating incidents of deadly mass gun violence. Using an NIJ sponsored mass shooting database that contains incidents from 1980 to 2018, and adding supplemental incidents that occurred from 2019 to 2022, this study compares mass shootings that took place in the Confederate South (N=289) to other locations (N=544). Deadly mass shootings include all incidents where four or more persons were shot and killed, in public or private spaces. We expect there to be distinctions between the situational features of mass shootings in the Confederate South and mass shootings in other locations, which should bring to light important policy implications. Bivariate analyses are used to identify differences in mass shootings using a range of incident-based characteristics, including characteristics of victims and shooters. In-depth case reviews are also used to identify key themes. Preliminary analyses suggest that incidents in the Confederate South differ from mass shootings that occur elsewhere, and many appear to transpire from threats to masculinity, disrespect, and ambiguous altercations.

Authors

• Antonia La Tosa, Florida State University

• Jillian Turanovic, Florida State University