Recent Shootings
Should Provoke Some Thought

By Rance Thomas

Once again, we are witnessing an outbreak of gun violence in both mass and individual shootings. We have seen too many of these in recent months, and they are increasing.
Shootings used to be mostly in large cities, but in recent times they have spread to suburbs, small towns, and rural areas. The types of shootings have changed also. We now see many individual or lone shootings taking place on streets, into cars, and into homes.
As a result, we must do something to get these under control, because they are increasing and mass shootings are now taking place in various unusual places as well. In such places as malls, grocery stores, shopping centers, streets. highways, bars, housing complexes. etc.
For example, it is reported that during the last five years up to Feb.28, 2021, 122 individuals were killed and 325 were injured from mass shootings, and     recently there has been seven mass shootings within a seven-day period. Further, there have been more shootings on the street, into cars, and homes than mass shootings and more individuals have been injured or killed in the first few months of 2021.
Although mass shootings receive the most attention and concern, it is reported that during 2020 approximately 20,000-gun violence cases have occurred in homes, in cars, and on the streets.
It seems that some individuals are shot because they have offended the shooters in some minor way. For example, some security and store employees may be shot because they tell a potential customer that he must wear a mask to enter a store. Some other individuals are shot while driving along a street or highway and may offend a driver in the slight manner. This may be due to cutting in front of a car. driving too slow, or slowing down a driver in some way. There are other shootings for other irrational reasons as well. For some, it seems like they shoot into cars just for the sport of it.
Because of these it makes some of us feel uncomfortable to go out shopping or to drive along streets and highways.
This can also make us feel uncomfortable to say anything to strangers or even look at someone who has misbehaved or show disapproval of strangers in some way.
Something needs to be done about this increasing and dangerous public safety issue. The question is what can we do? We cannot simply stay home and not go shopping or not take care of our other needs.
There have been attempts without much success to strengthen gun sale laws such as requiring national background checks for gun sales and banning the sales of semi-automatic rifles, machine guns, assault weapons, etc. However, these have made little difference. In fact, as we see gun violence has increased.
Even if these were more effective, there would still be a problem with illegal gun sales, sales at gun shows, and individuals mental health issues. Those with mental issues, criminal records, and other issues would still have access to guns illegally and are more likely to use them.
One thing we can do is to make a more serious and committed effort by both the Democratic and Republican parties to work together to deal with this issue. This needs to be done at the local as well as the national levels. When gunmen shoot individuals, they do not ask what party they belong to and as mentioned before this situation is getting worse.

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