With Over 145 Mass Shootings In 2021, Is The US Really A Safe Place To Live?

As the pinnacle of liberty and freedom, why does the US suffer almost 3 times the number of violent gun deaths per 100,000 people than war-torn countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iran? After a significant drop in mass shootings in the United States during a pandemic-hit 2020, this year has already seen several deadly cases. 

Police in Indianapolis say eight people were shot and killed in a shooting late Thursday at a FedEx facility. The shooter also killed himself.

The Gun Violence Archive says 147 mass shootings have occurred so far in 2021. Their definition of mass shooting is a minimum of four gunshot victims.

President Joe Biden last week announced a half-dozen executive actions to combat what he called an “epidemic and an international embarrassment” of gun violence in America. But he said much more is needed.

Here are a few recent mass shootings.

ATLANTA

Eight people were killed by a gunman at three Atlanta-area massage businesses in attacks that began the evening of March 16. Seven of the slain were women, and six were of Asian descent. Police charged a 21-year-old white man with the killings. There was deep scepticism over the shooter's claim his motive was sex addiction. There was public clamouring for hate crime charges, especially among the Asian American community, which has faced rising numbers of attacks since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

BOULDER, COLORADO

About a week later, on March 22, a shooter at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, killed 10 people, including a police officer who was the first to respond to the scene. The suspect bought a firearm at a local gun store after passing a background check. Investigators are working to determine the motive for the shooting and why the suspect chose the King Soopers grocery store.

ORANGE, CALFORNIA

On March 31, a gunman killed four people and critically wounded a fifth at a Southern California office building. He knew all the victims. Apparently before opening fire, he chained shut the gates to two entrances, delaying police from getting inside. Among the victims was a 9-year-old boy who was found cradled in the arms of a woman believed to be his mother. The woman was the only survivor among those shot. The others killed were a man and two women.

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA

A week later, on April 7, former NFL player Phillip Adams shot six people. Robert Lesslie, a prominent doctor, was killed along with his wife, two of their grandchildren and two air conditioning technicians who were working at their home. Adams also killed himself. His brain is now being examined for possible degenerative diseases that has been shown to cause violent mood swings and other cognitive disorders in some athletes and members of the military.


As people and businesses are just recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. it's a shame that there's been almost 150 cases, these past 4 months, where innocent citizens were shot and killed in the "democratic" capital of the world.
There needs to be decisive and well-thought-out plans to put a permanent end to this scourge quickly.






Image Source: Getty Images