Fact check: What percentage of mass shootings in the USA since 2010 have been linked to far-right ideologies?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided suggest that there is a significant link between far-right ideologies and mass shootings in the USA since 2010. According to ^[1], 57% of ideological mass killings in the US since 2010 have been linked to far-right ideologies, with white supremacist attacks driving the increase in extremist mass killings ^[1]. Furthermore, ^[2] reports that in 2023, all 17 extremist-related murders in the United States were committed by right-wing extremists, with 15 of the 17 killings involving perpetrators or accomplices with white supremacist connections ^[2]. Additionally, ^[2] notes that over the past decade, right-wing extremists have committed the majority of extremist-related killings in all years but one, with 76% of the 442 people killed at the hands of extremists from 2014 to 2023 being killed by right-wing extremists ^[2]. However, it is essential to consider the broader context of mass shootings, as ^[3] provides data on mass shootings in the US from 1966 to 2019, including information on the psychosocial history of mass shooters, which may not be directly related to far-right ideologies ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some key context missing from the original statement includes the definition of "mass shootings" and "far-right ideologies," which may vary across sources. For instance, ^[4] notes that between 2006 and 2009, fewer than 1% of mass-casualty events had a link to extremism, while between 2018 and 2021, more than 5% did ^[4]. This suggests that the link between far-right ideologies and mass shootings may be increasing over time. Additionally, ^[5] highlights the global presence of far-right extremism, with incidents reported in several countries, which may indicate that the issue is not unique to the United States ^[5]. Alternative viewpoints may include considering the role of mental health and personal trauma in mass shootings, as suggested by ^[3], which notes that most mass shooters were troubled by personal trauma before their shooting incidents and were often in a state of crisis at the time ^[3]. Key stakeholders who may benefit from considering these alternative viewpoints include:

• Mental health professionals, who may be interested in the psychosocial history of mass shooters ^[3]
• Law enforcement agencies, who may need to consider the global presence of far-right extremism ^[5]
• Policymakers, who may need to address the increasing link between far-right ideologies and mass shootings ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be subject to potential misinformation or bias, as it does not provide a clear definition of "mass shootings" or "far-right ideologies." This lack of clarity may lead to misinterpretation of the data, as different sources may have different definitions and criteria for inclusion. For example, ^[1] reports that 57% of ideological mass killings have been linked to far-right ideologies, but it is unclear how this percentage is calculated or what specific criteria are used to define "ideological mass killings" ^[1]. Additionally, the statement may be biased towards emphasizing the link between far-right ideologies and mass shootings, without considering other potential factors, such as mental health or personal trauma, which may also contribute to mass shootings ^[3]. Key stakeholders who may benefit from this framing include:

• Advocacy groups focused on combating far-right extremism, who may use the data to support their cause ^{[1] [2]}
• Politicians who may use the data to support policies aimed at addressing far-right extremism ^{[4] [5]}
• Researchers who may use the data to study the link between far-right ideologies and mass shootings ^{[1] [2]}