Topline
More than 300 mass shootings have occurred across the country this year, according to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive, as 2023 remains on pace to become the deadliest year for mass shootings in recent history.
Police cordon off the area where at least one person was killed and 22 others wounded in a shooting … [+]
Key Facts
The U.S. has reported 311 mass shootings in 2023 as of early Monday morning, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
The total number of mass shootings crossed the 300 mark on Sunday—the earliest in any year this gruesome milestone has been reached since the GVA began tracking them in 2014.
In comparison, in 2021 and 2022—the two deadliest years for mass shootings in the U.S.—the 300 mark was reached on June 25 and July 3, respectively.
The GVA defines a mass shooting as four or more people—excluding the shooter—being shot.
The difference is even starker when comparing mass murders—incidents where four or more died from gunshots aside from the shooter—as 23 such incidents have been reported so far this year, compared to 16 and 14 during the same period in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
That works out to nearly one mass murder per week in the first half of 2023.
Surprising Fact
More mass shootings have occurred so far this year than throughout 2014.
News Peg
A series of mass shootings across the country over Juneteenth weekend left at least six people dead and several injured, according to the Associated Press. At least 20 people were shot, resulting in one death, in a Chicago area suburb on Saturday night at a Juneteenth celebration event. In Pennsylvania, one police officer was killed and another was severely injured by a gunman who attacked a police facility. Other mass shootings were reported in Washington State, Missouri, California and Baltimore.
Key Background
The rise in mass shootings and gun violence across the country has coincided with an increase in gun ownership. This has prompted Democrats to push for expanded gun control measures including so-called red flag laws, stronger background checks, and restricted access to high-powered assault weapons. Last year, Congress passed bipartisan legislation to implement some of these measures but stopped short of restricting access to assault rifles or banning high-capacity magazines. Push for stronger gun control measures has been met with fierce resistance from Republican lawmakers who argue that mass shootings and gun violence are a result of poor mental health and law and order problems—for which they have blamed Democrats.
Section Title
At least 6 killed, dozens injured in weekend shootings across US (Associated Press)
Over 200 Killed In U.S. Mass Shootings So Far This Year—A Decade-Long High (Forbes)
2023 Off To Historically Fast Start For Mass Shootings (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/06/19/more-than-300-us-mass-shootings-recorded-halfway-into-2023-this-year-is-on-pace-to-be-deadliest-ever/