In the past few months, several mass shootings have occurred in the United States. The Supreme Court of the United States is feeling pressure from voices around the country to enact stricter gun control laws. As cited in the Gun Violence Archive, a mass shooting is defined as having at least four people being shot at roughly the same time and location. The gunman does not count among those killed. According to the Washington Post, there has not been a single week in 2022 that has passed without at least four mass shootings. Additionally, the Robb Elementary mass shooting marked at least the 30th school shooting for ages K-12 in 2022. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been approximately 212 mass shootings since the beginning of 2022. In 2021, 693 mass shootings were recorded, 2020 recorded 611, with 2019 accounting for 417 mass shootings. This shows that gun violence is on the rise. According to data provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, guns are ranked the number one killer of children in the United States. Over the last two decades, more school-aged children have died from firearm violence than on-duty police officers and active-duty military fatalities combined. Since the Uvalde shooting, which occurred over a week ago, there have been 20 other mass shootings in America. Another surprising statistic is that in Texas, you only need to be aged 18 to legally purchase an assault rifle, despite the age limit being 21 to purchase a pistol. 

A gruesome attack that gained attention from the media was a racially charged mass shooting in a New York Buffalo supermarket, which left 10 people dead and 3 wounded. The suspect, 18-year-old Payton Gendron, reportedly drove more than 200 miles to target and kill as many black people as he could, which happened to be in Buffalo. The offender was armed with a semi-automatic rifle and had scouted out the area to ensure there was a high percentage of black residents. Victims ranged in age from 32-86. Before the mass murder, Gendron had made posts online describing himself as a white supremacist while quoting paragraphs of manifestos from other white supremacists who have committed mass shootings on marginalized groups. 

If he was not stopped, he planned to continue his rampage at other places. Of the thirteen people killed/wounded, 11 individuals were black. Gendron was charged with first-degree murder and state domestic terrorism. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on May 14, 2022. Gendron is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the new 25-count indictment, adding to the previous murder charge. Authorities hope that adding the state terrorism charge will send a message about violent racial attacks. 

A second attack that gained publicity occurred 10 days later than the Buffalo shooting, claiming the lives of 19 children and 2 teachers after the gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The gunman, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was killed on the scene. The shooting was the deadliest school shooting since the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy. 

These children were painters, animal lovers, musicians, daughters, sons, and siblings. The adults murdered were educators, mothers, fathers, friends, and community members. Within a brief second, these victims’ lives were changed forever. What is it going to take before gun laws become more strict? How many more citizens and innocent children have to die before laws are changed? How many people have to fear for their lives while completing daily tasks, such as going to concerts, schools, or grocery stores? Millions of parents and caregivers across the nation fear sending their children to school, a supposed haven that has turned into a battlefield for countless tragedies. 

So, how can we enact stricter gun laws? As cited by President Joe Biden on June 2, 2022, “For so many of you at home, I want to be very clear: This is not about taking away anyone’s guns. It’s about not about vilifying gun owners. We believe we should be treating responsible gun owners as an example of how every gun owner should behave. I respect the culture and the tradition, and the concerns of lawful gun owners. At the same time, the Second Amendment, like all other rights, is not absolute. “

President Biden continued his speech during the briefing, suggesting that the United States should ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. If assault weapons cannot be banned, the age to legally purchase guns needs to be raised to at least 21 years. Background checks need to be strengthened, stricter storage laws need to be authorized, and gun manufacturers need to face some liability for the violence polluting the nation. Lastly, mental health care needs to be more accessible to aid victims who have lost loved ones and provide help for those with violent tendencies. 

Lastly, Biden states, “We should limit how many rounds a weapon can hold. Why in God’s name should an ordinary citizen be able to purchase an assault weapon that holds 30-round magazines that let mass shooters fire hundreds of bullets in a matter of minutes?” 

Although the president of the United States outlines these regulations, it is up to Congress to change these amendments. The House of Representatives has recently passed safety features surrounding firearms; expanding background checks to cover all gun sales, getting rid of the loophole that allows gun sales to bypass the background check, safe storage requirements, the banning of high capacity rifles, a federal red-flag law, as well as codifying ghost guns that don’t have serial numbers and are untraceable. 

However, to pass any of these changes, a minimum of 10 Republican senators need to be on board with the change. The outcome is not looking hopeful, as the majority of the Senate Republicans do not want these proposals to be debated or voted for. If Congress fails American citizens, society needs to remember these facts when the voting time rolls around.