The U.S. has not seen a single week without a mass shooting this year. According to the Gun Violence Archive (a non-profit that tracks gun violence), a mass shooting is a shooting in which at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter, meaning that the United States has experienced over 600 mass shootings throughout this year. 

Approximately 607 mass shootings have occurred since January of this year, a number still lower than last year’s record high of 690 shootings. The latest shooting in the U.S. occurred on November 22 in a Walmart location, where six people were shot dead. The shooter was an employee of the store and later took his own life after shooting his co-workers. 

Although America isn’t the only country with mass shootings, it is one of the only countries without a response to the shootings. A typical response to a mass shooting is banning all semi-automatic weapons – precisely what New Zealand did back in 2019 when 51 people died from a shooting. Furthermore, in 1996, when 35 people were killed in a shooting, Australia’s reaction was to apply stricter laws when purchasing a gun; restrictions required individuals to complete safety training and comply with stern storage and usage laws. 

Why can’t America do the same?

The divide in political beliefs has caused much trouble in America’s history; it is also one of the main reasons why there has not been much change in gun laws. While many believe that the right step to take would be to implement restrictions, others believe that owning a gun is a right for the citizens of America. A common argument is that taking away a gun doesn’t make the shooter less dangerous. Although this idea has some support, many hope to see a change in gun laws in the upcoming years.