Identifying Mass Shooters Act
Bill: H.R.9441 | Sponsor: Rep. Mfume, Kweisi (D-MD)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Identifying Mass Shooters Act
This bill requires the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to report to Congress on the content patterns used by mass shooters through online platforms and social media channels.
Additionally, the bill directs the NIJ to identify items for further study that are identified in the report.
Finally, the bill requires the NIJ to submit findings and federal legislative recommendations to Congress.

To direct the National Institute of Justice to collect, study, and 
 analyze online content created by mass shooters in an effort to early 
                   identify potential mass shooters.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Identifying Mass Shooters Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Perpetrators of mass shootings have utilized various 
        online channels to declare their intent to commit violence 
        through manifestos, blog posts, social media posts, and direct 
        messages prior to committing acts of terror.
            (2) Inadequate oversight and accountability mechanisms on 
        online platforms creates an environment that enables hate 
        speech, extremism, radicalization, and violence.
            (3) In 2018, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School 
        shooter posted a video on YouTube stating his desire to be a 
        ``professional school shooter,'' and proceeded to share photos 
        of himself posing with guns, along with troubling photos on 
        Instagram of his weapons arsenal and an animal he tortured, 
        prior to murdering 17 student and school staff members.
            (4) In 2018, the Santa Fe High School shooter posted a 
        Facebook photo of a t-shirt with ``Born to Kill,'' and images 
        of Nazi and satanic symbols prior to murdering 10 students and 
        school staff members.
            (5) In 2022, the Buffalo Tops grocery store shooter 
        declared on Discord, ``I will carry out an attack,'', posted a 
        manifesto on 4chan, and then livestreamed the murder of 10 
        Black people in a racially motivated shooting.
            (6) In 2022, the Robb Elementary School shooter posted a 
        photo of a hand holding a gun magazine, 2 semi-automatic 
        rifles, a TikTok profile that warned ``Kids be scared,'' and 
        sent a direct message though Yubo notifying an individual of 
        his intent to kill prior to murdering 21 children and staff 
        members.
            (7) The First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs shooter 
        demonstrated a fascination with mass shootings and launched 
        personal attacks on Facebook prior to murdering 26 churchgoers, 
        including an unborn child.

SEC. 3. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act the Director of the National Institute of Justice 
shall prepare and submit a report to Congress identifying content 
patterns used by mass shooters through online platforms and social 
media channels.
    (b) Review and Consultation.--In preparing the report required 
under this section, the Director shall, at a minimum--
            (1) review evidence relating to linguistic patterns used by 
        previous mass shooters collected by Federal, State, and local 
        law enforcement as of the date of the enactment of this Act;
            (2) review academic studies, including studies analyzing 
        the relevance of social media in mass shootings described in 
        paragraph (1); and
            (3) meet with, and consider any facts and analyses offered 
        by, prosecutors, defense attorneys, family attorneys, judges, 
        nonprofit organizations, victims service providers, culturally 
        specific organizations, Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
        courts, Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement 
        agencies, and individuals with academic expertise in 
        relinquishment.
    (c) Identification of Items for Further Study.--In the report under 
this section, the Director shall identify items for further study, 
relating to the effectiveness of the best practices developed under 
subsection (b).

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Mass shooting.--The term ``mass shooter'' means a 
        person who commits a shooting during which three or more 
        individuals, not including the shooter, were injured or killed 
        in one location or in multiple locations in close proximity.
            (2) Social media.--The term ``social media'' means a 
        channel for interactions among people in which they create, 
        share, or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities 
        and networks (specific activities including instant messages, 
        social media posts, blogs, uploading media content, through 
        social media platforms including, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, 
        Flickr, Instagram, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat, 
        Reddit, Twitch, 4chan, 8run, Yubo, and Discord).

SEC. 5. FEDERAL ADOPTION.

    The National Institute of Justice shall prepare and submit to 
Congress findings and recommendations for Federal legislation in 
accordance with section 3.
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