"More Guns Than People"…Mass Shooting Incidents Occur Twice Daily in the US

120 Guns per 100 People... Increased Since COVID
Total of 650 Mass Shooting Incidents Occurred in the US This Year

The number of firearms circulating in the United States is known to exceed the population.

Recently, the Swiss research institute Small Arms Survey (SAS) estimated that there are about 120.5 firearms per 100 Americans, and as of 2018, the total number of firearms in circulation in the U.S. reached approximately 390 million.

There is also analysis suggesting that gun purchases increased further during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kelly Drean, a researcher at the Giffords Law Center, an organization dedicated to preventing gun violence, explained, "The problem has worsened in recent years, including during the pandemic period," adding, "Gun purchases increased in 2020 and 2021, and many people who previously did not own firearms now possess them."

This is considered one of the reasons why mass shootings frequently occur in the United States. On the 30th (local time), EFE news agency reported, "There have been approximately two mass shootings per day in the U.S. this year."

According to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a U.S. nonprofit organization, there have been a total of 650 mass shooting incidents this year in the U.S. where four or more victims were injured or killed, excluding the perpetrator. This is the second-highest number since the organization began tracking in 2014, following 690 incidents in 2021.

The worst mass shooting incident among these occurred on October 25 in Lewiston, Maine, where former soldier Robert Card (40, deceased) opened fire at a bowling alley and restaurant. The incident resulted in 18 deaths and 13 injuries. Additionally, on March 27 in Nashville, Tennessee, a graduate opened fire at a Christian private school, killing six people including children.

Legislative discussions on gun control have always taken place in the U.S. Congress, but dramatic changes have rarely occurred.

Semi-automatic rifle AR-15, commonly used in mass shootings in the United States
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Last year, the U.S. Congress passed a bill strengthening gun control for the first time in 30 years, prompted by mass shootings at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and in Buffalo, New York. However, the bill notably excluded provisions regarding the AR-15 assault rifle, a common weapon in mass shootings. The AR-15 is a powerful firearm capable of firing 45 rounds per minute. It is the civilian version of the military semi-automatic rifle M-16 and was used in the Lewiston, Maine incident.

The issue of gun control is expected to be a contentious topic in next year’s presidential election as well. Interest groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) have exerted strong lobbying efforts in U.S. politics to block gun control legislation. The NRA is known for making substantial financial contributions to candidate campaigns in Senate, House, and presidential elections, and supported former President Donald Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.