Mass Shootings In The US By Total Victims

School shootings are growing increasingly common in the US.
School shootings are growing increasingly common in the US.

Mass shootings in the United States have become a common occurrence. Just when people think that they have seen the worst, another happens and in a more devastating fashion. In no other country are there incidences of mass shootings more than the United States. Some people have blamed it on the easy access to guns while others think that bad people have simply found a way to let out their frustrations. Whatever the case, it is apparent that the shootings will continue to happen unless something drastic is done. The assailants have continued to target high crowd areas like schools and theaters where it's easy to get a high number of casualties with minimal resistance because people in these places do not usually carry guns.

Notable Mass Shootings

The shootings have been spread across the United States over the years. From New York to California, different states have had their fair share of mass shootings. The Aurora theater shooting, which happened in Colorado, left 12 people dead and 58 others injured. These people had innocently gone to watch the local premiere of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" only to be met with gunshots.

Las Vegas Shooting, 2017

On October 1st, 2017, the Las Vegas shooting took the place of the Orlando nightclub shooting as the largest mass shooting in US history. The gunman opened fire from his hotel room into the crowds of the Route 91 Harvest music festival causing the deaths of 58 people. In addition, 851 people were injured of which 422 were from gunfire.

Orlando Nightclub Shooting, 2016

On June 12, 2016, a gunman started shooting inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The shooting resulted in 50 deaths, including the gunman, and 53 were injured. The attack was the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in US history and, at the time, the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman.

Virginia Tech Shooting, 2007

The attack on Virginia Tech was one of the worst incidents in the history of mass shootings in the United States. In this event, which occurred in 2007 in Blacksburg, Virginia, a student opened fire on fellow students, taking the lives of 33 of them and wounding another 23. The attacks were two hours apart before the perpetrator ended up taking his own life after the second incident.

Gun Control Debate

America has had issues with gun control and the debate for and against continues. Those on the side fighting for stricter gun control argue that only when gun control is more regulated will these tragedies end. Those on the other side of the debate argue that restricting access to guns violates an American's right to freedom and that arming will more people with guns will offer protection from these lone gunmen. 

Mass Shootings In The US By Total Victims Since 1949

RankIncidentDeathsInjuries
1Las Vegas shooting (Las Vegas, Nevada; 2017)59851 (422 from gunfire)
2Orlando nightclub shooting (Orlando, Florida; 2016)5053
3Virginia Tech shooting (Blacksburg, Virginia; 2007)3323
4Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting (Newtown, Connecticut; 2012)282
5Sutherland Springs church shooting (Sutherland Springs, Texas; 2017)2720
6Luby's shooting (Killeen, Texas; 1991)2427
7San Ysidro McDonald's massacre (San Ysidro, California; 1984)2219
8University of Texas tower shooting (Austin, Texas; 1966)1831
9Stoneman Douglas High School shooting (Parkland, Florida; 2018)1717
10San Bernardino attack (San Bernardino, California; 2015)1624
11Columbine High School massacre (Littleton, Colorado; 1999)1524
12Edmond post office shooting (Edmond, Oklahoma; 1986)156
13Fort Hood shooting (Fort Hood, Texas; 2009)1433
14Binghamton shootings (Binghamton, New York; 2009)144
15Thousand Oaks shooting (Thousand Oaks, California; 2018)1325
16Washington Navy Yard shooting (Washington, D.C.; 2013)138
17Camden shootings (Camden, New Jersey; 1949)133
18Wilkes-Barre shootings (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; 1982)131
19Wah Mee massacre (Seattle, Washington; 1983)131
20Aurora shooting (Aurora, Colorado; 2012)1270
21Virginia Beach shooting (Virginia Beach, Virginia; 2019)125
22Pittsburgh synagogue shooting (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 2018)117
23Geneva County massacre (Kinston, Samson and Geneva, Alabama; 2009)116
24Easter Sunday massacre (Hamilton, Ohio; 1975)110
25Santa Fe High School shooting (Santa Fe, Texas; 2018)1014
26Atlanta shootings (Atlanta, Georgia; 1999)1013
27Umpqua Community College shooting (Roseburg, Oregon; 2015)108
28GMAC shootings (Jacksonville, Florida; 1990)106
29Red Lake shootings (Red Lake, Minnesota; 2005)105
30Palm Sunday massacre (Brooklyn, New York; 1984)100
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