Mass shootings have always been an issue in the U.S. So far in 2017, the country has witnessed a total of 307 mass shootings. There was a total of 483 mass shootings in 2016. This has been the deadliest year for mass shootings in at least a decade. The number of mass shooting incidents has been increasing proportionally since 2014 after remaining steady from 2010 to 2013. Two of the 2017 shootings have been categorized under the deadliest mass shootings the country has witnessed.
Other past deadly mass shootings include the Orlando Pulse nightclub mass shooting in 2016, the Virginia Tech Shooting in 2007, the Sandy Hook Shooting in 2012, the Luby’s Cafeteria Shooting in 1991, the McDonald’s Massacre in 1984, the University of Texas Tower Shooting in 1966, the U.S. Postal Service Massacre in 1986, the San Bernardino Attack in 2015 and the Binghamton Shooting in 2009.
The Harvest Music Festival that took place in Las Vegas Oct. 1 was the deadliest shooting in U.S. History. A gunman, later identified as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, opened fire on a crowd of at least 20,000 people from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Paddock was reportedly armed with around 20 rifles. He ended up killing 58 people and injuring more than 500. The shooter was later found dead. The authorities believe he killed himself.
On Nov. 5, 2017, a gunman later identified as Devin Patrick Kelley walked into a church in rural Sutherland Springs, Texas and opened fire on worshipers. He ended up killing 26 people and leaving several others injured. The shooter was later found dead by the authorities. It is unknown whether he killed himself. This was the deadliest shooting in Texas history.
The most recent shooting took place in northern California Nov. 14. A shooter later identified as Kevin Janson shot four people and started shooting at an elementary school before he was shot down by the police. It was later discovered that he also killed his wife and buried her under his floor earlier that day.
Some argue that gun control would restrict gun violence-related crimes. Some rules have been suggested to limit the number of gun violence victims, including universal background checks, banning bump stocks and adopting micro-stamping of cartridges to track guns. On the other hand, some people believe that America needs more trained citizens carrying guns and argue that guns are not the problem and should therefore not be restricted. They blame mass shootings on mental illness and propose improvements to the mental health system. Still others believe that it is an issue of national security and propose the solution of having more armed forces in public events.
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