The mass shooting that claimed the lives of eight children in Louisiana has reignited the debate on firearms in the United States. While these high-profile shootings leave a lasting impact, they only represent a small portion of the armed violence that authorities have declared a true “public health crisis.”
The city of Shreveport in Louisiana (United States) was the scene of a new mass shooting, in which eight children, aged three to eleven, were killed on Sunday, April 19. This marks the deadliest shooting in the country since January 2024, in the state with the highest number of mass shootings per capita.
Mass shootings are defined as incidents where at least four people are injured. Despite their high visibility, these events only account for a small fraction of gun-related violence. When including suicides, more than 600 individuals are killed by firearms every day, according to Amnesty International.
“These mass shootings are high-intensity but low-frequency events,” notes Francis Langlois, a researcher at the Observatory on the United States at the Raoul Dandurand Chair. He emphasizes that gun violence also includes suicides, which make up two-thirds of the cases, along with homicides.
Context: Mass shootings in the United States have been a recurring issue, prompting discussions on gun control and public safety measures.
Fact Check: Amnesty International’s statistic of over 600 firearm-related deaths per day includes suicides and homicides.
A “Public Health Crisis”
Such tragedies are sadly commonplace in the United States. Public Health Administrator Vivek Murthy designated gun violence as a “public health crisis” back in 2014. Since 2020, nearly one in five Americans has experienced a family member’s death due to gun violence, making it the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the country. The violence disproportionately affects the African American community.
For example, there were 690 mass shootings in the United States in 2021, setting a record year. The following year, 46 shootings occurred in schools, the highest level since 1999, according to Gun Violence Archive, a leading source on the topic.
This situation can be partly attributed to the proliferation of firearms in the country, as the right to bear arms is guaranteed by the second amendment of the 1791 Constitution:
“A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
58% of Americans Support Stricter Legislation
According to the Pew Research Center, over a third of American adults claim to own a firearm, and 42% live in a gun-owning household. Despite these numbers, there is no national registry to track gun ownership and circulation in the country. Additionally, 61% of respondents believe it is too easy to acquire a firearm, with 58% in favor of stricter legislation.
However, the National Rifle Association (NRA), a powerful pro-gun lobby group, staunchly opposes any restrictions. A significant contributor to Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, the NRA wields considerable influence within the Republican Party.
The issue remains divisive in American society, with debates resurfacing after each tragedy. The March for Our Lives movement following the Parkland shooting in 2018 highlighted a growing popular demand for stricter regulation of the second amendment. Yet, a significant portion of the population remains opposed to federal interference in their individual freedoms.
“I think it’s worth accepting, unfortunately, a few firearm deaths each year to enjoy the Second Amendment that protects our other God-given rights,” justified Charlie Kirk in 2023, an American influencer fatally shot in 2025.
According to Francis Langlois, Supreme Court decisions in 2009 and 2022 have hindered risk reduction efforts made during the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, or Joe Biden. The jurisprudence has upheld the second amendment, prohibiting the banning of this individual right.
The researcher notes a decrease in mass shootings and overall crime, except for a significant rise in homicides since the 1990s-2000s. The emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation by authorities has proven more effective than strict punishment measures.
