Have Americans become numb to gun violence?

Reporter: Amy Galo Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
FILE: Evidence markers at a shooting scene.

There have been several deadly shootings across the country in 2023, with one of the most recent leaving a 9-year-old and a journalist dead. WINK News spoke to mental health professionals to find out if our society is becoming desensitized to violence.

One mental health professional said Americans are not numb. Instead, many internalize feelings about mass shootings. Another said we are now numb as a survival instinct.

On February 22, a 38-year-old woman, a 9-year-old girl, and a 24-year-old reporter were killed after a unique mass shooting in Orlando.

On February 13, three college students were shot and killed, and five more were hurt after a shooting at Michigan State University.

On January 30, 11 people were injured in a Lakeland, Polk County, shooting.

The Gun Violence Archive says there have been 84 mass shootings in the first 53 days of 2023.

“It’s not the world I grew up in,” said Tom Domlon.

“There’s been so much violence on TV that nobody thinks twice about it,” said a woman who has seen the almost daily coverage of shootings in the U.S.

Does that mean people are numb to gun violence?

Dr. Laura Streyffleler, a mental health counselor, said yes. “The numbness is not even just a desensitization. It’s become a survival instinct. Because if I feel my feelings, if I feel every single time, that there’s a shooting, then it can become so overwhelming people won’t be able to function.”

Mental Health Counselor Shantell Pepe disagrees. “You develop a certain set of skills to be able to deal with the situation. So maybe it’s turning off the television or, you know, not talking about it, but those are all protective factors. It doesn’t necessarily mean numbness.”

These two mental health professionals do find common ground on one important thing. “It’s exhausting when you’re experiencing trauma over and over,” said Pepe.

“People think anxiety is stress, but it’s really fear and just waiting for the next shoe to drop,” Streyffleler said.

Events like the one in Orlando can stick with you, but it is important you don’t get stuck in them.

Dr. Streyffleler and Pepe say it’s important to talk about anything we may feel after seeing or going through traumatic events. They say we should never push our feelings aside or let them consume us.

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