The media coverage is a big part of it. The big media outlets IMO thrive off showing violent news stories. It makes for good t.v. I will be watching the news and they will be reporting of some explosion somwehere and the other part of the screen will be showing a standoff between a man that fleed police in a car. Is it really necessary to show a live police chase on t.v. Double the violence, more ratings (sad but true).