Google Trends: School Shootings and Guns, Gun Control vs. 2nd Amendment

Why are guns searched up more after a school shooting? 

Over this past year we witnessed one of the most horrendous mass shooting taken place at a school. A place were students are deemed safe is gone within seconds. As news strikes the country there seems to be an influx of people searching for guns after one of these events takes place. According to an analysis of Google search on Google Trends, we can see that around February, which is when the Parkland Shooting was, there was a spike in guns (Red) being searched. As well around May, there is another spike for both school shootings (Blue) and guns due to a school shooting in Texas.

 

Often after one of these attacks takes place there is controversy surrounding guns and gun control in the United States. This quick surge that follows a school shooting can be people wanting to find out what firearm was used in the attack. Often these attacks are carried with military style weapon which to many is an argument of why they should not be sold at all.

In some cases after mass shootings there are spikes of guns being searched or bought due to a fear of tougher laws coming in which could restrict fire arm in the future.