On March 16, the country mourned as Robert Aaron Long took the lives of eight people as he attacked three different spas in the state of Georgia. He was reportedly arrested as he attempted to drive further south. Initial reports suggest that Long was attempting to go to Florida and carry out more killings. Less than 24 hours later, Long was charged with eight counts of murder. More than a month later, Long’s fatal actions were just the first in a long line of recent mass shootings.
A recent study from CNN has shown a startling uptick in gun violence within the last month. According to their report, 50 mass shootings have taken place since March 16. This report defines “mass shootings” as any shooting incident in which four or more people are injured. Furthermore, the Gun Violence Archive has reported that there have been 150 mass shootings thus far in 2021. In context, there have only been 108 days in the year 2021.
The most recent mass shooting documented through the CNN report took place on April 18 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A gunman opened fire at a local tavern and killed three people. Adding on, an additional three people were injured. This mass shooting adds to the gun violence the city experienced late last year. Officer Rusten Sheskey shot and paralyzed Jacob Blake Jr. in August. Days later, Kyle Rittenhouse traveled across state lines and killed two more people at a protest in support of Jacob Blake Jr.
Other recent shootings have taken place in Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago and Baltimore. If America keeps going along this trend, there will be more than 350 mass shootings between now and the end of the year.
