Mass Shootings In The US By Total Victims
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
Rank | Incident | Deaths | Injuries |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Las Vegas shooting (Las Vegas, Nevada; 2017) | 59 | 851 (422 from gunfire) |
2 | Orlando nightclub shooting (Orlando, Florida; 2016) | 50 | 53 |
3 | Virginia Tech shooting (Blacksburg, Virginia; 2007) | 33 | 23 |
4 | Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting (Newtown, Connecticut; 2012) | 28 | 2 |
5 | Sutherland Springs church shooting (Sutherland Springs, Texas; 2017) | 27 | 20 |
6 | Luby's shooting (Killeen, Texas; 1991) | 24 | 27 |
7 | San Ysidro McDonald's massacre (San Ysidro, California; 1984) | 22 | 19 |
8 | University of Texas tower shooting (Austin, Texas; 1966) | 18 | 31 |
9 | Stoneman Douglas High School shooting (Parkland, Florida; 2018) | 17 | 17 |
10 | San Bernardino attack (San Bernardino, California; 2015) | 16 | 24 |
11 | Columbine High School massacre (Littleton, Colorado; 1999) | 15 | 24 |
12 | Edmond post office shooting (Edmond, Oklahoma; 1986) | 15 | 6 |
13 | Fort Hood shooting (Fort Hood, Texas; 2009) | 14 | 33 |
14 | Binghamton shootings (Binghamton, New York; 2009) | 14 | 4 |
15 | Thousand Oaks shooting (Thousand Oaks, California; 2018) | 13 | 25 |
16 | Washington Navy Yard shooting (Washington, D.C.; 2013) | 13 | 8 |
17 | Camden shootings (Camden, New Jersey; 1949) | 13 | 3 |
18 | Wilkes-Barre shootings (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; 1982) | 13 | 1 |
19 | Wah Mee massacre (Seattle, Washington; 1983) | 13 | 1 |
20 | Aurora shooting (Aurora, Colorado; 2012) | 12 | 70 |
21 | Virginia Beach shooting (Virginia Beach, Virginia; 2019) | 12 | 5 |
22 | Pittsburgh synagogue shooting (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 2018) | 11 | 7 |
23 | Geneva County massacre (Kinston, Samson and Geneva, Alabama; 2009) | 11 | 6 |
24 | Easter Sunday massacre (Hamilton, Ohio; 1975) | 11 | 0 |
25 | Santa Fe High School shooting (Santa Fe, Texas; 2018) | 10 | 14 |
26 | Atlanta shootings (Atlanta, Georgia; 1999) | 10 | 13 |
27 | Umpqua Community College shooting (Roseburg, Oregon; 2015) | 10 | 8 |
28 | GMAC shootings (Jacksonville, Florida; 1990) | 10 | 6 |
29 | Red Lake shootings (Red Lake, Minnesota; 2005) | 10 | 5 |
30 | Palm Sunday massacre (Brooklyn, New York; 1984) | 10 | 0 |