On reaching a consensus re mass shootings in the U.S.

It has occurred to me that we commonly criticize the U.S. Congress for not getting anything done in this regard, yet we here are guilty of the same thing as we argue and fight about this subject while seldom reaching any common understandings or consensus about the subject.

So I would like to try something a bit different. In this thread I will pose a series of questions which I would like us all to address and come to an agreement about, before we move on.
If we don't agree, we don't move on.

It'll be interesting to see if we can pull this off without the thread blowing up within fifteen minutes or so.

Before I introduce the first question let me define what a mass shooting is for the purpose of this thread.

Here is a list. Please don't comment on it at this time, I only include it for reference.

 

My first question will be concerning the causes of mass shootings.
The question will appear at the end of this explanation.

I have identified three categories of mass shootings; spontaneous, premeditated, and due to insanity.

Spontaneous mass shootings, are those that occur on the spur of the moment and are related to emotional stress or imbalance. Some of the reasons for the shooting may be jealousy or anger.
Example: For some reason people make fun of a woman at a party. She gets mad and pulls a gun from her purse and shoots them all without thinking.
No pre thought is given to the shooting.

In a premeditated shooting planning is involved. The shooter has a rational for the actions he or she then takes. Some of the reasons for the shooting may be retaliation or revenge.
Example: For some reason people are bullying a man. He seeks revenge for his torment and plans actions to get even.
Planning, sometimes extreme planning is given to the shooting.

Lastly we have those shootings due to insanity.
Example: A man hears voices telling him to kill people.
Planning, sometimes extreme planning may or may not be given to the shooting.

In the first two instances a knowledge of right and wrong is granted to the shooter, so no legal mental health issues are involved.
The shooter is not legally insane.
In the last instance no knowledge of right and wrong is present so the shooter is legally insane.

Now, I have gone rather in depth to make the point that we can't just say all those who commit a mass shooting are insane or mentally deficient in a legal sense.

So here's my question:
1. Can we reach a consensus that all mass shootings are the product of abnormal behavior? (not necessarily due to mental health issues)

 

I am restricting this thread to shootings. I don't want to get into kool aid, and bombs.

Yes I forgotten about religious or other group ideologies. I had wanted to include them when I conceived this thread, but forgot when I wrote it up.
So can we agree that mass shootings based on group ideologies, excluding declared wars, are also abnormal behaviors as most group ideologies don't engaged in such activity?

 

Yes, I agree, but we are only talking about mass shootings.

 

So far we all agree:
1. All mass shootings are the product of abnormal behavior.

 

Now as we agree that all mass shootings are a product of abnormal behavior, and what that behavior is, we can proceed to what to do about it.

We have three categories; spontaneous, premeditated, and mental health issues (which may be spontaneous or premeditated.) And I'm going to include mass shootings based on group ideologies in these three categories.

So let's take the first; spontaneous mass shootings.
Can we suggest anything to stop the impetus for these actions? I'm not talking about types of weapons used, or their availability here, I'm talking about stopping the action itself, before it happens regardless of the methods or instruments used to satisfy that urge?

 

As no one has proposed anything to be done to prevent spontaneous mass shootings, I'll address it.

Mel is correct when she states that background checks aren't going to stop spontaneous shootings.
As the shooting is spontaneous the shooter will use whatever weapon happens to be at hand.
Someone gets angered and lashes out. A gun is already present and becomes the weapon of choice.

The only remedy I can see for this type of mass shooting, other than raising the consciousness of the general population to the point where they aren't ruled by negative emotions, is limiting the availability of guns.

 

So let's move on to the second category, premeditated mass shootings.

By definition a premeditated shooting requires planning, I fail to see how waiting periods to buy guns would make any difference.
If I wish to kill a bunch of people I just factor the waiting period into my plan. So, I have to wait a month, so what?

Background checks may have a limited value as they may be able to weed out potential mass killers.
But let's remember many premeditated mass killers exhibit perfectly normal behavior until they execute their plan. In other words the background check may not turn up anything that points to a future mass killer. Let's remember the Las Vegas shooter passed at least two background checks.

Any comments so far?

 

Sure, but I didn't get that far yet.

 

All good ideas.

 

So let me skip ahead to question number two.

2. Can we agree that something must be done about abnormal behavior in relation to mass shootings?

And I'll go ahead and assume everyone agrees with that statement.