Your Cell Phone Could Stop Mass Shootings

The image above shows a person holding up a phone that reads nothing but “blacklist” in large white letters

The way you use your phone is a modern thumbprint. The articles we read, what we buy, the people we follow on social media, it all affects the way we function. And as of recent, some have argued the data collected from our usage could even help authorities stop killers.

The Trump administration has been reviewing proposals that would create agencies and operations tasked to view citizen data and “red flag” them. These proposals include “SAFEHOME,” Stopping Aberrant Fatal Events by Helping overcome Mental Extremes, and “HARPA,” Health Advanced Research Projects Agency.

These radical projects originated with Bob Wright, a close friend of President Trump. However, it was his daughter and advisor, Ivanka, that showed further interest in Wrights ideas. She urged him to expand these missions by enabling them to prevent mass shootings.

Researching motives behind mass shootings is not particularly productive. There is very little statistical evidence on what motivates mass shooters to commit violent acts. Further, most data that references mental illness as a cause of violence groups treated and untreated disability as equal.

The Data above reveals statistical motives to mass shootings.

The proposal is not only unconstitutional, but also a waste of tax dollars. For one, monitoring any individual’s phone is an invasion of privacy, but alienating mentally ill is discriminatory. Not only that, but most often those who partake in mass shootings do not have a diagnosed mental illness. So even if we do start screening more likely than not those most prone to committing acts of violence will not be included in the investigation.

But that does not change the fact that we would be isolating an entire population. While not backed by data, let’s say that observing electronics owned by the mentally ill would in fact limit the number of mass killings. What would this do the stigma surrounding developmental disabilities. We have spent recent decades revealing just how common it is to suffer from some kind of mental illness. An increasing number of individuals have sought help. However, if we divide the population into normal and abnormal, sick and healthy, watched and left alone, society will be forced to revert back into a time where different was identified as bad.

Unjustly identifying an entire population as potential killers will not help us prevent crime. People will hide. They will suppress their struggle. And they will not seek help. Before we know it, individuals will not even fall into the category that the government is monitoring. They still will not be a danger to the greater population, but they will be a danger to themselves.

As previously mentioned, monitoring anyone’s phone is illegal, and an invasion of privacy. But perhaps this committee could actually be useful in stopping mass attacks. Without singling out all the content of a single populations phone, maybe it would be more effective to just review purchases of the greater population. Maybe they should more adequately follow up on the intentions of gun owners?

Most will refuse to give up their information. And we, as American citizens, have the right to reject unnecessary supervision. But it comes down to what we choose to prioritize: our safety, or our privacy.

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