Research shows nearly 20 million Americans have thought about shooting people

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has brought to light a disturbing reality within American society: millions of adults have contemplated violence against others. Researchers at the University of Michigan found that a significant portion of the adult population, approximately 19.4 million individuals, have experienced thoughts of shooting someone at some point in their lives. This figure, while alarming, is contextualized by the researchers' emphasis on the difference between thought and action. Professor Brian Hicks noted that even a small percentage of those harboring such thoughts can translate into a substantial number of victims annually. The study also delved into the demographics of those experiencing these thoughts, identifying younger men, urban dwellers, and individuals with lower incomes as more prone to them. Interestingly, political affiliation did not appear to be a differentiating factor. Furthermore, the research indicated that the mere presence of a firearm in the home does not correlate with an increased likelihood of contemplating its use against others. However, the study did reveal that a concerning number of individuals considered acquiring a firearm specifically to harm someone, with personal enemies being the most frequent imagined targets. This research offers crucial insights for public health experts aiming to prevent gun violence, highlighting opportunities for intervention when individuals share these thoughts with others.

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Though most people with such thoughts do not act on them, the number is so high that a small percentage of those who do translates into tens of thousands of victims annually.