Fact check: Stat on mass shooting based on leftist ideology

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided present a complex picture of the relationship between mass shootings and leftist ideology. According to the Cato Institute, left-wing terrorists have murdered 65 people, accounting for about 2 percent of the total number of people murdered in terrorist attacks in the United States since 1975 ^[1]. In contrast, right-wing terrorists are responsible for 11 percent of the total number of people murdered in terrorist attacks in the United States since 1975, while Islamist terrorists are responsible for 87 percent ^[1]. The Economist reports that assessing political violence in America is inherently subjective and that the killing of Charlie Kirk is not representative of broader trends, according to available studies and datasets ^[2]. Additionally, NPR notes that the Minneapolis shooter's online persona emulated mass shooters, and extremism analysts say that the picture may be more complex, with the shooter's writings and materials showing a mix of anti-Catholic, anti-religious, and anti-Semitic references, as well as references to far-right extremist movements ^[3]. A study examined the differences between far-left and far-right ideologically motivated homicides in the United States, finding that far-right extremism is a more significant threat to public safety, accounting for a larger proportion of fatalities and incidents ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some key context missing from the original statement includes the fact that assessing political violence is inherently subjective ^[2], and that the killing of Charlie Kirk is not representative of broader trends ^[2]. Alternative viewpoints include the idea that far-left extremist homicides have a higher proportion of multiple fatalities and are more likely to target law enforcement ^[4], and that ideological mass shooters are less likely to struggle with mental health issues, more likely to rely on semi-automatic firearms, and more likely to kill more victims during their attacks ^[5]. Furthermore, the motive for the attack on Charlie Kirk is still unclear and being investigated ^[6], and some researchers argue that the act of violence was 'performative' and intended to generate discourse and content ^[7]. It is also important to consider that the shooter's materials reflect an increasingly familiar profile of a school shooter, with an obsession with mass killers and a desire for notoriety, rather than a coherent ideological motive ^[3].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading or biased as it implies a direct link between mass shootings and leftist ideology, which is not supported by the data ^{[1] [4]}. The statement also lacks context and fails to consider alternative viewpoints, such as the fact that far-right extremism is a more significant threat to public safety ^[4], and that assessing political violence is inherently subjective ^[2]. The statement may benefit those who seek to politicize mass shootings and blame leftist ideology, while ignoring the complexity of the issue and the need for a nuanced understanding of the relationship between ideology and violence ^{[2] [6] [4]}. Additionally, the statement may be influenced by a biased or limited perspective, which fails to consider the full range of data and research on the topic ^{[1] [2] [3] [6] [7] [4] [5]}.