--- description: Based on 73 mass shootings since 1982 title: Over 80% of Guns Used in Mass Shootings Were Obtained Legally image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta7417ceedfc6e994/698873e4196cf415510394f0/san-bernardino20.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Over 80% of Guns Used in Mass Shootings Were Obtained Legally by [Elizabeth Chuck / NBC News](/author/nbc-news/) ## Elizabeth Chuck / NBC News Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 5, 2015 6:38 PM CUT  A Law enforcement officer picks up as shell casing at the scene where suspects of the shooting in San Bernardino, CA were killed, on Dec. 4, 2015. A Law enforcement officer picks up as shell casing at the scene where suspects of the shooting in San Bernardino, CA were killed, on Dec. 4, 2015.Joe Raedle—Getty Images by [Elizabeth Chuck / NBC News](/author/nbc-news/) ## Elizabeth Chuck / NBC News Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 5, 2015 6:38 PM CUT The weapons used in this week’s massacre in San Bernardino, California, were purchased legally, raising questions about how preventable gun violence is under current U.S. firearm laws. Eighty-two percent of weapons involved in mass shootings over the last three decades have been bought legally, according to a [database ](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/mass-shootings-mother-jones-full-data "undefined")compiled by Mother Jones magazine that defines a mass shooting as taking the lives of at least four people in a public place. Using that criteria, Mother Jones found 73 mass shootings since 1982. Authorities say Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27 — the shooters who [killed 14 people and injured 21 others](http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/san-bernardino-shooting "undefined") this week. . . [_Read more from our partners at NBC News_](http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/san-bernardino-shooting/more-80-percent-guns-used-mass-shootings-obtained-legally-n474441?cid=par-time%5F20151205 "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4137623/over-80-of-guns-used-in-mass-shootings-were-obtained-legally/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4137623/over-80-of-guns-used-in-mass-shootings-were-obtained-legally/"},"headline":"Over 80% of Guns Used in Mass Shootings Were Obtained Legally","datePublished":"2015-12-05T18:38:10.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T13:08:14.821Z","description":"Based on 73 mass shootings since 1982","url":"https://time.com/4137623/over-80-of-guns-used-in-mass-shootings-were-obtained-legally/","keywords":["Crime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta7417ceedfc6e994/698873e4196cf415510394f0/san-bernardino20.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Elizabeth Chuck / NBC News"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta7417ceedfc6e994/698873e4196cf415510394f0/san-bernardino20.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Community Mourns As Investigation Continues Into San Bernardino Mass Shooting","caption":"Community Mourns As Investigation Continues Into San Bernardino Mass Shooting","creditText":"Joe Raedle—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/us/","name":"U.S."}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4137623/over-80-of-guns-used-in-mass-shootings-were-obtained-legally/","name":"Over 80% of Guns Used in Mass Shootings Were Obtained Legally"}}]}] ```