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Is Violence Contagious?

Violent crime in America has been dropping for years, reaching a point in 2012 that was roughly half of what it was in 1993. But that may be changing.

The New York Times reported last week that violent crime was rising sharply in cities like Milwaukee and St. Louis. In Hartford, homicides jumped to 25 so far this year, up from 19 in 2014.

While there are a lot of reasons why violence is spiking, police officers note a growing willingness to use violence to settle minor disputes.

There have been hundreds of mass shootings since 26 people were killed in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The violence is fueled by easy access to guns and seems to spread like a contagious disease, reaching a new level with the recent shootings of two journalists in Virginia.

By definition, a contagion feeds off itself and is difficult to stop. It can destabilize fragile, otherwise controlled people who perform acts of violence after observing shooting after shooting. Are we entering a more dangerous period of highly-visible shootings?

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John Dankosky and Chion Wolf contributed to this show.

Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows.

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