Gun Violence Epidemic Leaves U.S. Residents Feeling Unsafe

From Miami Beach to Arlington, a chilling sense of unease is spreading across the U.S. as gun violence surges. Over 100 mass shootings have rocked the country in 2023 alone—enough to fill a horror movie marathon . But this isn’t fiction: Firearms are now the #1 killer of Americans under 18, surpassing car accidents and drug overdoses.

New data paints a grim picture: Mass shootings skyrocketed during the pandemic, averaging nearly two per day since 2020. A recent study in JAMA Network Open reveals worsening racial divides—Black children in major cities are 100x more likely to be shot than white peers post-2020, up from 27x before COVID-19 .

Schools have become battlegrounds. After the 2022 Uvalde elementary school massacre that left 21 dead, students nationwide are demanding action. “I shouldn’t need a bulletproof backpack to learn algebra,” said one Colorado teen during March protests at the State Capitol, where 1,000+ students rallied for stricter gun laws .

The crisis has even birthed a $3 billion safety industry, with companies selling armored classroom doors and AI surveillance systems. But as Cairo-based political scientist Heba Gamal notes: “Racism, poverty, and weapon access have normalized violence. Streets feel unsafe day and night.”

With no federal solutions in sight, communities brace for what’s next—while parents check their phones for school lockdown alerts instead of soccer scores .

Reference(s):

Why are U.S. residents feeling unsafe in public?

cgtn.com