Why Are There Many Mass Shootings in the USA?

Why are there so many mass shootings in the US?

In recent weeks, the United States has been shaken by tragic mass shootings. In the three recent mass shootings, a total of 35 people were killed, including 10 in the New York shooting, 19 children and two teachers in Texas, three medical staff and one patient in Oklahoma.

The reason for many shootings in the US

This year, there has been an average of more than one mass shooting per day, in which four or more people are hurt or killed, excluding the shooter. In 2022, there have been at least three mass shootings every single week.

In recent years, there has been an increase in mass shootings. Nearly 700 of these incidents took place in 2021, up from 417 in 2019 and 611 in 2020. Prior to that, since the Gun Violence Archive began keeping track in 2014, incidents had never exceeded 400 annually.

Some people believe that the violence in American society, the pervasive racism, or the people's untreated mental health issues are to blame for the mass shootings. However, a 2015 study by University of Alabama professor Adam Lankford revealed that this is a typical issue in mass shootings in nations all over the world. The vast number of firearms that Americans own sets them apart from other countries.

Despite having 4.4% of the world's population and 42% of the world's guns, according to Professor Lankford, who has long studied mass shootings around the world. About 31% of shooters worldwide between 1966 and 2012 were Americans.

Only Yemen has a higher rate of mass shootings per population than the United States among nations with a population of more than 10 million. After the United States, Yemen has the second-highest rate of gun ownership in the world.

According to Lankford, there is a direct correlation between the availability of firearms and shootings in a nation after analyzing data from 171 countries spanning 40 years.

According to Lankford, "the biggest factor in explaining this is that guns in the US are very easily accessible, even to those at high risk," adding that the possibility of Americans losing their lives in a shooting at a place of employment or a school is significantly higher than the possibility of being struck by a bullet close to a military installation abroad.

According to Dr. Lankford's analysis, suspects in more than half of all mass shootings in the US are found to be in possession of multiple firearms, many of whom were never previously in possession of a firearm.

"For these people, guns are not a pastime, a part of their culture, or a subject of study. It is true that when someone wants to kill people, they simply believe a gun is a tool they need to help themselves. attain the objective," said Lankford.

However, he also made note of the fact that US shooters, on average, kill less people than those in other nations. He attributed this to how quickly law enforcement reacts to shootings in public.

Some states have passed laws allowing relatives or law enforcement to seize a firearm from a person thought to pose a threat to others or the public in response to the rising prevalence of gun violence. self. Domestic abusers and violent criminals in Alabama are prohibited from possessing firearms. However, a lot of people think that the law restricting the possession of firearms needs to be more severe and applied in more situations.

"If a person expresses interest in shooting, that person cannot purchase a firearm. I believe that people ought to support legislation that prohibits dangerous individuals from possessing firearms, said Lankford.

He argued that the US should do more to help its citizens access mental health services.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) earlier this week released data showing that the country in 2021 recorded 61 mass shootings, the highest in more than 20 years, leaving 103 people dead and 140 injured.

US President Joe Biden immediately gave a speech after the shooting at Robb Elementary School urging lawmakers to pass gun control legislation. The head of the White House added that he had recently traveled to Asia and that there are not as many mass shootings there as there are in the United States. Gun violence in the US has been referred to as a "epidemic" and a "disgrace" to the international community by Biden in the past.

Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, expressed fear and outrage in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School. Murphy also spoke to Congress, calling out his colleagues for their prolonged inaction in the face of widespread gun violence casualties.

Charles Ramsey, a former Philadelphia police chief, also expressed anger and frustration over the shooting that claimed 21 lives. "Enough is enough; everything must stop. These things occur daily in our cities, so we must protect our children, said Ramsey.

Barack Obama, a former president, also promised to take prompt action to address gun violence in the US. Rather than being paralyzed by fear, he continued, Republicans' unwillingness to take action to stop future mass shootings and pro-gun lobbyists are to blame.

Over 150,000 people are employed in the US's $34 billion firearms manufacturing and trading market, according to research firm IBISWorld.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is regarded as a potent lobbyist because it prevented the US Congress from passing laws restricting access to firearms. The NRA spends about $3 million a year influencing gun laws, according to data from the NGO Open Secrets.

Igor Volsky, a former reporter for Think Progress, has repeatedly emphasized how the NRA continues to fund the Republican Party, along with its congressmen. The fact that billionaire Michael Bloomberg decided to try to overturn the law in 2014 is evidence, according to many, that Republicans' opposition to stricter gun control is not solely due to the NRA's financial support. By giving more money to Republicans to support the gun control order, you can reduce the NRA's influence. Nothing has altered, though, as of yet.

Gun ownership is associated with being a Republican, according to experts. Gun ownership is a core component of who the most ardent Republican voters are.

Ted Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, says the opposition has always tried to use gun attacks to try to deprive people of their Second Amendment to gun ownership. . "When a crime of this kind emerges, it is almost immediately politicized," he said, adding that "attacking the constitutional right to use guns is not effective in stopping this type of crime."

Why hasn't the US been able to prevent mass shootings?

Despite the fact that there are hundreds of mass shootings in the US every year, Congress has repeatedly failed to enact gun control laws. Although there are numerous and significant obstacles in the way of passing stricter gun laws in the US, activists claim they won't give up until some changes are made.

How common are mass shootings in the US?

According to the National Gun Violence Archive, 213 mass shootings—defined as incidents in which at least four people were shot or killed—took place in the United States in 2022. There were 692 mass shootings in 2021 as opposed to 610 in 2020.

This past May, there were more mass shootings in the US. A grocery store in Buffalo, New York was shot at less than two weeks before the Uvalde shooting. Ten people were killed by this person's gunfire; most of the victims were African Americans.

What policies have been proposed to address mass shootings?

Advocates for gun control have created a comprehensive and detailed plan to lower the number of gun fatalities in America. These regulations mandate background checks for all firearm purchases, even those handled by unregistered dealers online or at gun shows.

They have also demanded extending restrictions on who can legally purchase firearms. Some have suggested making it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase a firearm, which might have prevented the 18-year-old gunman in Uvalde from getting his weapon.

While some states have passed stricter gun laws, new federal legislation will make restrictions more stringent nationwide.

Do Americans support stricter gun laws?

Many Americans in the US support specific gun control laws. A survey by Morning Consult and Politico in 2021 found that 84% of US voters were in favor of mandatory background checks for all gun sales.

When Americans were questioned about their views on stricter gun laws generally, opinions were more varied. According to a Gallup survey from November 2021, 52% of Americans support stricter gun laws.

Just 19% of Americans surveyed by Gallup in 2021 said they would support a ban on handguns, which is a new low.

The fact that tens of millions of Americans own guns may contribute to some of their reluctance. According to a 2021 survey by the Pew Research Center, 30% of Americans claim to personally own a gun, and 40% of Americans say they live in a home with a gun.

Has the US Congress enacted a gun control law?

Stronger gun regulations have been repeatedly pushed for by Democrats in the US Congress in an effort to lower the number of mass shootings there. Most notably, in 2013, months after the horrifying shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, Congress attempted to pass a compromise bill to increase background checks. Since most Republicans and some Democrats opposed the legislation, the bill was unable to pass the Senate.

The National Rifle Association, which vehemently opposed the law and declared it would run a campaign against any senator who supported it, was blamed for the opposition to the bill, according to former US President Barack Obama, who then made a speech about it.

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