Over the weekend, there were seven shootings in the United States, bringing the total number of mass shootings this year to over 200. The non-profit organization, Gun Violence Archive, reported that there have been 202 incidents this year in which four or more people, other than the attacker, were shot. This number is alarming, especially considering that the US did not reach 200 mass shootings until mid-to-late June in both 2020 and 2019.
One of the shootings over the weekend occurred at Allen Premium Outlets in Texas, where a gunman killed eight people and injured seven others before being fatally shot by police. Another four mass shooting incidents were recorded on Sunday, killing five people and injuring a dozen others in California, Missouri, New Jersey, and Maryland.
Last year, the Gun Violence Archive recorded a total of 647 mass shootings in the US, resulting in 20,200 gun-related deaths and nearly 40,000 injuries. President Biden has decried the recent spate of shootings and urged Congress to act on gun control.
It is important to note that gun control is a highly debated topic in the US, with proponents and opponents on both sides of the political spectrum. While some advocate for stricter gun laws, others argue that the Second Amendment protects their right to bear arms.
Regardless of one's stance on gun control, it is clear that there is a problem with gun violence in the US. As journalists, it is important to report the facts without bias or opinion, allowing readers to come to their own conclusions about what actions, if any, should be taken to address this issue.