My answer is no. Killers have existed since creation practically. Look at Cain. History is full of all sorts of psychopaths, mass murderers, serial killers and the like. I think there are a few things that just has made it worse, or in some case SEEM worse.
1 - Taking God out of schools, teaching people they are accidents with no purpose in life, thereby demoralizing not only the self, but also the way we view others around us.
2 - As the population increases so does the number of violent people, which gives the appearance of a growing problem, but percentage wise i believe its just growing with the population.
3 - A lack of teaching of basic morals, and an emphasis on self. Entitlement is rampant.
4 - Lack of availability for mental help, and good help, not just pill dispensers.
5 - The stress of just trying to keep up with whats 'average' can be difficult financially. It used to be a TV was a luxury item. Now, multiple tv's are standard,cable tv, along with cell phones, high speed internet, ipads, new computer every few years, and whatever other gadgets. Used to be familys just needed food, clothing, housing, maybe a car and the home necessities. Now look at all these other things we have to pay for, which puts more pressure on people to feel they need these things adding to the bills we have to pay.
6 - This leads to two income families, where the children are raised by strangers at a young age, not bonding with their parents. And often the stress of finances and other things lead to divorce, increasing problems within children, and the adults too, sometimes.
7 - An increase in violent entertainment, and a greater ease to obtain violent material.
But really when it comes down to it, these people have existed all through history, regardless of any of these previous points. Many of these people are sociopaths and will work very hard to maintain the facade of 'normal'. John Wayne Gacey was a childrens party clown. Ted Bundy deceived his wife, her family and all the family friends and lots of others into thinking he was a handsome, wealthy ladies man, when in reality he had no money of his own. Sociopaths learn at an early age, an age when people are reluctant to make assumptions about the severity of their condition, how to play the game and blend in. Honestly, i don't think there is much to be done to prevent these things other than making quality mental health care more readily available. And even then that will only do so much.
*a note, my list of 7 is meant to be taken as various small parts, coming together to form a larger picture. I am not saying any one of those things is, in and of itself 'the' problem. No one number is 'the' problem, i just believe these all contribute to the overall problem. So if you want to pick one out of the group just to argue, save it. I've explained myself already.
