David, I agree with you that we are suffering definitional problems and, I would contend, that using outcome casualty figures as part of the definition is a distortion. That is why I am intrigued by the FBI Active Shooter Incident Reports which only uses situational criteria -- like the ones you mentioned above in paragraph 2 -- as definitional. I also agree that, to some degree the category is arbitrary, and the damage is tragic. However, if we are going to discuss this particular crime phenomenon, some definitional stipulation is necessary. Thanks for your work. Dave Pavlick, Litchfield, CT.
David, I agree with you that we are suffering definitional problems and, I would contend, that using outcome casualty figures as part of the definition is a distortion. That is why I am intrigued by the FBI Active Shooter Incident Reports which only uses situational criteria -- like the ones you mentioned above in paragraph 2 -- as definitional. I also agree that, to some degree the category is arbitrary, and the damage is tragic. However, if we are going to discuss this particular crime phenomenon, some definitional stipulation is necessary. Thanks for your work. Dave Pavlick, Litchfield, CT.