WASHINGTON, D.C. – McCain Institute Senior Director for Preventing Targeted Violence Brette Steele today issued the following statement regarding acts of violence in America over the weekend:
“The McCain Institute stands with the communities affected by the tragic violence in Buffalo, N.Y., and Laguna Woods, Calif., this past weekend. Our hearts go out to the family members and loved ones of the victims.
“Gun Violence Archive reports that 198 mass shootings that have taken place already in 2022. Mass shootings fall under the umbrella of targeted violence, which refers to any incident of violence against a specific target based on perceived ideologies. Acts of targeted violence and terrorism ripple far beyond those directly affected, sowing fear and weakening the trust that is the bedrock of democracy.
“Senator McCain understood how hate-based ideologies can end lives and devastate communities. Following the racially motivated violence that occurred in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, McCain said, ‘Americans must unite against hatred and bigotry.’ While the motivations of the shooter in Laguna Woods are still unknown, it appears that the gunman who opened fire in the Tops supermarket in Buffalo was motivated by a hateful, racist ideology that has moved from the fringe to the mainstream in recent years.
“As grievances and isolation from the past several years compound upon one another, some individuals are turning to online spaces that can push them down the path of radicalization and even mobilization to violence. Parents, educators, and caregivers must be aware of the content that children and teens are consuming online. We must do all that we can to strengthen the resiliency of individuals and communities and decrease the risk of similar acts of targeted violence. Hate has no place in America.”
About the Preventing Targeted Violence Program
The McCain Institute’s Preventing Targeted Violence program develops action-based solutions to end targeted violence nationally and internationally through building capacity for local practitioners, hosting innovative competitions, and creating local and federal policy recommendations.
About the McCain Institute at Arizona State University
Inspired by Senator John S. McCain and his family’s legacy of public service, the McCain Institute is fighting to secure democracy and alliances, defend human rights, protect the vulnerable and advance character-driven leadership, both at home and around the world.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.