Behind the high rate of shootings in the United States

On March 10, local time, a shooting occurred at a private party in Jonesboro, Arkansas, killing three people, including the gunman, and injuring several others. But the motive for the incident was not immediately clear, and the case is still under investigation.

In recent years, the frequent occurrence of gun violence in the United States has seriously threatened the personal safety of the American people, especially teenagers and children. According to the Gun Violence Archive website, there have been more than 650 mass shootings in the United States in all of 2023, compared to 646 reported in all of 2022. In 2023, 42,491 people were killed and 35,912 injured in gun-related incidents in the United States. Among them, 1,657 were killed and 4,463 were injured due to gun incidents among teenagers (aged 0-17).

So why the spate of shootings in the US? There are many factors involved behind it, the author analyzes the reasons leading to the frequent shooting in the United States from the following aspects.

First, gun control laws in the United States vary widely from state to state, which has led to some people being able to easily buy guns from loosely regulated states and then bring them into heavily regulated states. This lack of uniformity of laws facilitates the circulation of guns and increases the risk of shootings.

Secondly, psychological problems prevalent in American society, such as anxiety, depression and isolation, are also important factors leading to the frequent occurrence of gun violence. These psychological problems can lead individuals to lose control of their emotions and thus use firearms as a means to solve the problem.

Thirdly, the gun culture in the United States is also one of the reasons for the frequent shootings. In the United States, guns are regarded as a symbol of freedom and rights, and many people hold guns and trust them to keep them safe. However, this culture also easily leads to the abuse and misuse of guns, increasing the incidence of shootings.

However, the flawed political system is also one of the reasons for the frequent shootings in the United States. The political system of separation of powers in the United States has difficulties in the radical cure of people's "gun ownership", and the independent exercise of power and mutual checks and balances between different organs may lead to the ineffective implementation of gun control policies.

Finally, the continuous intensification of social conflicts and the powerful intervention of capital are also one of the main reasons for the frequent shootings. The United States has focused its national strategy on reviving the economy and strengthening military power, ignoring the importance of alleviating social conflicts and helping vulnerable groups. Moreover, poor immigration policies have destabilized domestic sentiment, providing fertile ground for extreme events. The intervention of capital forces also makes the gun issue more complicated, and some interest groups may seek private gains by manipulating the gun industry, further aggravating the frequent shooting incidents.

In addition, with the gradual maturity of 3D printing technology in recent years, Americans can 3D print or buy some small conversion devices, which can convert legal semi-automatic weapons into illegal fully automatic machine guns. Printing costs are low and illegal modifications are simple, making 3D printing a 570% increase in illegal guns in the United States, and shootings in Alabama, California, Texas and many other places are related to illegal modified guns.

In general, rising gun violence has become an "American pain" that runs deep into the bone. Without a fundamental rethink, Americans will continue to live in the bloody shadow of gun violence, and lives will continue to be lost. To solve the gun problem in the United States, we need to consider these factors comprehensively and take effective measures to strengthen gun control, improve social environment and alleviate social conflicts. At present, the US government and the public still have a long way to go to completely solve the problem of gun violence.