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Mass shootings in the U.S.: 317 mass shootings have occurred in 2017 so far

Posted at 7:43 AM, Oct 02, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-14 15:36:32-05

A shooting at a California school, killing 5 and wounding 2,marks the 317th mass shooting in the U.S. so far this year.

According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, a total of 316 mass shooting incidents have occurred as of November 14. With the addition of Tuesday's school shooting, the total reaches 317.

Comparatively, 2016 saw a total of 483 mass shootings. See statistics for other years here.

There doesn't seem to be an official definition for a "mass shooting" in the United States, but according to the Gun Violence Archive, a mass shooting is described as four or more individuals being shot or killed in the same general time and location. 

The F.B.I. has defined "mass killing" and "mass murderer".

The F.B.I. defines a "mass killing" as the killing of three or more people in a public place, but the federal agency also defines a "mass murderer" as someone who has killed four or more people in the same location.

The Gun Violence Archive lists itself as a not-for-profit organization that documents gun violence and gun crime nationally.