(NewsNation) — A group in Florida has launched a new national hotline to prevent multi-victim shootings from happening anywhere in the country.
There were more than 650 shootings with multiple victims across the U.S. in 2023. Since 2020, the country has witnessed an average of more than 600 shootings per year.
The National Mass Shooter Prevention Hotline is monitored 24/7, along with staff who have been specifically trained to speak with potential shooters. Any information the call center receives will be passed on to law enforcement.
Sean Cononie, who spearheaded the hotline’s creation, told “NewsNation Now” that in many instances, shooters make their intentions clear long before carrying out the crime.
“These people are in a state of mind where they’re actually crashing for a couple months prior to the mass shooting and actually looking for help,” Cononie said.
He said the hotline isn’t officially live yet but explained how he hopes the process will work.
“Well, they haven’t gotten the calls just yet, which is really, really good,” said Cononie. “I don’t think anybody in the country is actually taking calls from people who are potentially able to do a mass shooting. The research shows that we can get to these people. Like where we place our ads, like maybe in magazines, and so forth. The person planning a shooting may call us and reach out. And that’s what it’s all about, getting the person when they’re in the crash mode.”