What's happened
School shootings in the US have increased significantly this year, with 44 incidents reported so far, including the deadly Minneapolis attack that killed two children. Despite calls for stricter gun laws, legislative progress remains limited amid political divisions. Experts link rising violence to broader gun access and mental health issues.
What's behind the headline?
The rise in US school shootings reflects a complex interplay of factors. Despite some states and local leaders calling for bans on assault weapons, legislative action remains hampered by partisan divides. The Minneapolis attack underscores the challenge: even with existing laws like background checks and 'red flag' orders, legally purchased guns can still be used in mass violence. The data shows a troubling trend: most shooters are young men, often with psychological issues, and a significant portion come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The fact that the shooter in Minneapolis used a high-capacity rifle fired rapidly highlights the danger posed by semi-automatic weapons. The broader context suggests that without federal action to restrict access to assault weapons and improve mental health support, these incidents will continue to rise. The recent decrease in mass shootings, as noted by Senator Murphy, may be influenced by law, but the overall trend remains alarming. The challenge for policymakers is balancing Second Amendment rights with public safety, a debate that will likely intensify as more tragedies occur.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that despite calls for stricter gun laws, legislative progress in Minnesota is limited by political divisions, with some lawmakers opposing gun control measures. Al Jazeera highlights the broader context, noting that the US has the highest number of guns worldwide and that recent laws, such as background checks and 'red flag' laws, have not prevented the Minneapolis shooter from legally obtaining firearms. The article also emphasizes the difficulty in defining and tracking school shootings, with different databases reporting varying incident counts. The American School Shooting Study and other sources confirm that most shooters are young men, often with mental health issues, and that the US experiences far more school shootings than other countries, with Austria's recent incident being a rare exception. The articles collectively underscore the persistent challenge of gun violence in US schools, driven by access to firearms, mental health issues, and political resistance to comprehensive gun reform.
How we got here
Over the past decade, US school shootings have increased, especially since Covid-19, with record-high incidents annually since 2021. The US has the highest number of firearms globally, with over 500 million guns in circulation. Efforts to tighten gun laws face political opposition, complicating policy responses to this ongoing crisis.
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Minneapolis is the largest and most populous city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the seat of Hennepin County, the state's most populous county.
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Jacob Lawrence Frey is the mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, he served on the Minneapolis City Council from 2013 until his election as mayor. Elected mayor in 2017, he was sworn in on January 2,