Gun Violence in America: What Can We Do to Stop the Madness

This memorial day lets us all remember not just our military but also the victims of the senseless shooting.‍

In the wake of another school shooting, America Robb Elementary School shooting is once again grappling with gun violence and how to prevent these tragedies from continuing to happen. In response to the Parkland shooting in February 2018, many students have taken a stand and spoken out about the need for stricter gun laws and other measures to reduce gun violence. The NRA has come under fire, with many questioning why they continue to have so much influence over politicians and whether their money has anything to do with it. There are no easy answers to this question. This podcast examines gun violence in America today, what may be fueling it, what we know about its effects on society, and possible solutions that may help reduce it in the future.

What is the current state of gun violence in America?

According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report (UCR), there were about 15,000 homicides committed with a firearm in the U.S. in 2017, the last full year for which data are available. This is a rate of 6.3 homicides per 100,000 people, or about 3% of all homicides in the U.S. The UCR data also show that firearm homicide rates have generally declined since the 1990s. While rates have decreased, they've also shown a dramatic increase in the past two years. In 2016, when the UCR data were compiled, there were 14,415 firearm homicides in the U.S. The following year, the number increased by nearly 10% to 15,386. This represents the highest number of firearm homicides in the U.S. since 2014.

Why has there been an increase in gun violence?

Most academics who study gun violence agree that there has been a general downward trend in homicide rates since the 1990s. But there have been significant increases in firearm-related homicides in recent years. So, why have rates of gun violence increased? A couple of essential factors may be driving the rise in gun violence: ACSW. These factors may help explain the increase in gun violence from 2016 to 2017. While the causes of the rise in gun violence are speculative at best, we can take action to reverse the trend and reduce gun violence in the future.

Who is most at risk for gun violence?

Homicide is a pretty rare event in the U.S.; according to the CDC, it occurs at 3.7 per 100,000 people. But gun violence is much more common among specific segments of the population. The FBI's UCR data show that black Americans are disproportionately likely to be victims of gun violence. Black Americans make up only 13% of the U.S. population, but they account for over half of firearm homicides. The homicide rate among black Americans is 11.7 per 100,000 people. The FBI data also show that the 15-34 age group has the highest rate of firearm homicide. But homicides committed with a firearm are also common among young children and the elderly, who are least likely to commit a homicide with a gun.

How can we reduce gun violence?

The first step to reducing gun violence is better understanding its causes and effects. While there's no denying that there's a problem, we need to determine what's driving the increase in gun violence, who is most at risk, and what can be done. This may sound challenging, but it's pretty simple. We need to follow the data. With the information provided above, we can identify who is most at risk and what may be causing gun violence to increase. Armed with this information, we can develop policies and solutions to help reduce gun violence in the future. The most obvious answer is to enact stricter gun laws. While gun violence has been declining since the 1990s, it's still far too familiar and has shown a dramatic increase in the past two years. We know that the majority of firearm homicides are committed with handguns. So, we can pass laws that make it more challenging to buy and own guns by requiring background checks and waiting periods while also making it more difficult to transport and store handguns. We can also make it more difficult for people with a history of violence or mental illness to obtain guns.

 

Auburn High School — Rockford, Ill.

 

Seminole High School — Sanford, Fla.

Oliver Citywide Academy — Pittsburgh, Pa.

 

Magruder High School — Rockville, Md.

 

 

Beloit Memorial High School — Beloit, Wis.

 

 

South Education Center — Richfield, Minn.

 

 

Rufus King High School — Milwaukee, Wis.

 

Wenonah High School — Birmingham, Ala.

 

Catonsville High School — Baltimore

 

 

Minneapolis Public Schools — Minneapolis

 

 

McKinley High School — Buffalo, N.Y.

 

Olathe East High School — Olathe, Kan.

 

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East High School — Des Moines, Iowa

 

 

North Gardens High School — Miami Gardens, Fla.

 

 

Justin F. Kimball High School — Dallas

 

Dunbar High School — Baltimore

 

 

TechBoston Academy — Dorchester, Mass.

 

 

Eisenhower High School — Yakima, Wash.

 

 

Lee Williams High School — Kingman, Ariz.

 

Oakdale Elementary School — Charlotte, N.C.

 

 

Tanglewood Middle School — Greenville, S.C. 

 

 

Erie High School — Erie, Pa.

 

 

Edmund Burke School — Washington, D.C.

 

 

Heights High School — Houston

 

Walt Disney Magnet School — Chicago

 

 

 

East Kentwood High School — Kentwood, Mich

 

Robb Elementary School  — Uvalde, Texas

 

Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., 2012.

The Columbine shooting on April 20, 1999