Framing Terrorists in Canada: A Comparative Analysis of Two Shootings

Abstract

Framing of criminal violence has taken on a particular and troubling trajectory with regard to terrorism. Despite the lack of a universal academic definition of terrorism, both the news media and political leaders regularly frame certain violent offenses as terrorism while excluding other similar events. This work will use two similar Canadian incidents of violent crime to explore how one was framed as terrorism, while the other was not. In doing so, this work will demonstrate how this distinction is often based on subjective and troubling judgements by those in a position to directly benefit from the use of the label of terrorism.