Gun violence in America is a pervasive issue, affecting communities and individuals across the nation, with increasing incidents of mass shootings and everyday gun-related crimes.

More Americans died of gun-related injuries than any other, according to the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which includes record numbers of both gun murders and gun suicides.

This year, in July, former President Donald Trump survived an attempted assassination during his public rally.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old suspected gunman, was spotted by police because of behaving suspiciously.

Firearm Deaths  in recent years

Deaths caused by gun violence have increased in recent years since the pandemic began. From 2012 to 2023, firearm death rates increased, post pandemic there has been a steady increase in 2022.

 Firearm Deaths  by Race and Gender

Year                                                                     White                                 Black                                  Hispanic                      Asian

2018	2	6	1.5	1.1
2019	1.8	6.7	1.6	0.7
2020	2.2	9.5	2.2	0.7
2021	2.3	11.8	2.3	0.9
2022	2	12.2	2.6	0.7

 

Year                                                                                                                Male deaths                                                   Female deaths

2018	3.8	0.9
2019	3.9	0.8
2020	5.2	1
2021	5.7	1.2
2022	5.7	1.3

 

Contrarily, firearm death occurrences are more prevalent among blacks, even though pandemic death rates have only increased.

Gun violence impacts Blacks more because of the inequalities and deeply rooted racial discrimination in American society. More male deaths have occurred in recent years due to firearms than female deaths.

Prevention against Gun Violence

The United States has imposed multiple federal Gun laws to reduce cases related to gun assaults and violence.

In 2022, lawmakers recently enacted the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to address gun violence in America.

This significant piece of legislation aimed to enhance background checks for gun buyers under 21, provide funding for mental health services and school safety, and close the “boyfriend loophole,” which restricted firearm access for individuals convicted of domestic violence.

Other multiple protection Acts are the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (2005), the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (2004), and the Gun-Free School Zone Act (1990).

Conclusion

Gun violence in America remains a critical issue, profoundly affecting individuals and communities nationwide.

The CDC reports that gun-related injuries surpass other causes of death, highlighting the urgency for effective intervention.

High-profile incidents like the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump underscore the pervasive threat.

Besides, the 2022 Act shows promise by enhancing background checks and by funding mental health services.

Despite these majors, the impacts on Black communities and the prevalence of male death underscores the need for comprehensive and continued strategies to combat violence.