Highest number of shootings in 10 years

In recent days, there have been a series of shootings in many places across the United States. Washington Police Department Acting Director Pamela Smith said that at around 1 a.m. on August 5 (local time), a shooting occurred in the Northwest area of ​​Washington. After police arrived at the scene, they discovered that three men had been shot, two of whom died on the spot and the other was seriously injured. That same evening, a shooting occurred in the Southeast area of ​​Washington, killing three people and sending two to the hospital for treatment. The Washington Post reported that at around 5 a.m. on August 5, another shooting occurred in the Northwest area of ​​Washington, killing one man on the spot.

According to CNN, data from the Gun Violence Archive shows that as of August 8, 2023, there have been 430 mass shootings in the US (injuring more than four people, not including the perpetrator), with an average of nearly two incidents per day. If this trend continues, 2023 could be the worst year for shootings in the US in the past 10 years. Data from the Gun Violence Archives also shows that July is a particularly serious month for gun violence in the US, with the most on the Independence Day holiday of July 4, when a total of 22 mass shootings occurred, killing 22 people and injuring 126.

Faced with this situation, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy exclaimed that only in America can people freely possess such weapons of mass destruction. Only in America can people worship violence to such an extent, causing mass shootings to continuously occur.

Gun violence erodes social trust

The United States is the country with the largest number of civilians owning guns in the world, with more guns than people, about 120 guns for every 100 people. Gun violence has crept into every corner of social life. American writer Janice Ellis commented that in the United States, whether in a grocery store, shopping mall or school, people are likely to become victims of gun violence. The United States is the only developed country in the world where gun violence occurs regularly.

In recent years, the number of gun violence cases in the US has been steadily increasing. Illustration: Vox

The motives for shootings are also very diverse: hatred, mental illness, gang revenge, family conflicts, etc. Even arguments in fast food restaurants or anger when being overtaken by a car can lead to shootings. The Kaiser Family Foundation, a US non-profit organization, released a report saying that more than half of American adults surveyed said that they or a relative had been involved in a gun-related incident. Compared to white people, this number is much higher for people of color such as African Americans.

Researchers have also found a clear link between gun ownership and gun violence in the United States. A study by Boston University found that for every percentage point increase in gun ownership in the home, the rate of gun homicide in the United States increased by 0.9%. Some analysts point out that in recent years, the gap between rich and poor in American society has continued to increase, with layoffs, business closures, economic recessions, etc. leading to increasing social polarization, leading to extremist psychology. The increase in gun violence has also made many people want to own guns for self-defense.

According to Vox News, “self-defense” has become the most important reason for Americans to own guns, more than hunting, recreation, collecting, and work. The Hill reported that from 2020 to 2022, Americans bought nearly 60 million guns, about 1 in 5 American households bought a gun, and annual gun sales are double what they were 15 or 20 years ago. The freedom to own guns has fueled social violence, and violence has fueled the production and sale of guns.

Bipartisanship over gun control

After a shooting at a shopping center in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, that left at least nine people dead (including the shooter) and seven others injured, on May 6, the White House urged Republicans in Congress to support a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

However, a Republican, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, said Texas would not impose gun restrictions because “it would be futile.” He said that whether it was a “red” state with lax regulations or a “blue” state with strict gun control, mass shootings were on the rise. “The root cause is the mental health of the person buying the gun,” Greg Abbott said.

Analysts point out that, due to partisan polarization and obstruction by interest groups, the legislative process to strengthen gun oversight and curb gun violence is struggling. The frequent occurrence of mass shootings shows a lack of action by federal and state lawmakers. That is contrary to lawmakers' expectations, said Daniel Webster, director of the Center for Gun Violence Policy and Prevention at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Many Republican leaders at the state level are making it easier to own guns. Republican lawmakers are even pushing legislation to expand the right to own and carry guns, according to AP. As of July 2023, 27 states do not require permits to carry handguns, up from 11 states in 2020.

Faced with that reality, VOX News commented that the gun issue has become deeply ingrained in American politics, culture and law, and "the political process in America has proven unable to change this reality."

THANH SON (According to gmw.cn)

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