In a year marred by violence and tragedy, the United States has reached a grim milestone. The first six months of this year have witnessed the deadliest recorded period of mass killings since 2006. From January 1st to June 30th, there were 28 mass killings in the country, with the toll increasing week after week. This wave of bloodshed has resulted in 140 victims across small towns, big cities, homes, and public spaces.
Brent Leatherwood, a prominent Republican in Nashville, never anticipated that his family would become part of the statistics. On March 27th, his three children were in school when a former student killed three children and three adults. Leatherwood, living in a state with lax gun laws, believes that something must be done to prevent violent individuals from obtaining firearms. The shocking proximity of the violence has compelled him to raise his voice. He reflects on the incident, saying, “You may as well say Martians have landed, right? It’s hard to wrap your mind around it.”
A mass killing is categorized as an event where four or more individuals are killed, excluding the perpetrator, within a 24-hour period. The Associated Press, in collaboration with USA Today and Northeastern University, has been tracking these incidents since 2006. The 28 mass killings in the first half of 2023 have surpassed the previous record of 27 incidents, set in the latter half of 2022. Criminology professor James Alan Fox, who oversees the database, expresses astonishment at the spike in numbers, stating, “We used to say there were two to three dozen a year. The fact that there’s 28 in half a year is a staggering statistic.” While the first six months have been chaotic, the remainder of the year may experience a different trend or continue the same pattern.
The surge in bloodshed can be attributed to a growing population combined with an increasing number of firearms in circulation. However, it is important to note that mass killings represent only a fraction of the overall gun violence in the country. Out of the 28 incidents in the first half of the year, 27 involved guns, while the remaining case was caused by fire. Despite the alarming levels of violence, the National Rifle Association remains staunchly opposed to gun regulation, including restrictions on AR-15-style rifles. NRA spokesman Billy McLaughlin argues against any attempts to limit firearms, stating, “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ constant efforts to gut the Second Amendment will not usher in safety for Americans; instead, it will only embolden criminals.” The tragic story of Andre and Jordan Anchondo, who died protecting their infant son in the 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, serves as a chilling reminder of the potential dangers that lie ahead. Their surviving son’s uncle, Tito Anchondo, expresses concern about his nephew’s future, contemplating the unsettling reality that he may attend school with classmates who could bring guns.
(Read more gun violence stories.)
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