The United States has witnessed more than 500 mass shootings this year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive, averaging nearly two mass shootings per day.
The Denver Police Department issued an alert on the “X” platform confirming a mass shooting incident that left five people injured, marking the 500th mass shooting this year.
Hours later, El Paso police reported an early morning mass shooting in East El Paso, resulting in the death of a 19-year-old man and injuries to five others, bringing the total number of mass shootings to 501.
Mass shootings are defined as incidents in which four or more people are shot, either injured or killed, not including the shooter.
The year 2021 saw the highest number of mass shootings in US history, with 689 incidents reported. While the numbers dropped to 647 in 2022, data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed a higher number of casualties.
The National Center for Education Statistics recently released its annual report on crime and safety, revealing 188 school shootings resulting in casualties during the 2021-2022 academic year, more than double the documented incidents from the previous year.
Mass shootings have increased over the past decade, with 273 incidents reported in 2014.
A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine in February revealed that gun ownership has surged in recent years, with 7.5 million new gun owners between January 2019 and April 2021.
The Second Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, and approximately one-third of American adults own a personal firearm.
However, an October 2022 poll conducted by Gallup found that the majority of Americans support gun control, with 57% favoring stricter gun laws.
