Minneapolis, Minnesota. Annunciation church memorial for the mass shooting victims that killed two children and injured 21 people. (Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. has already experienced more than 300 mass shootings, according to recently released data from the Gun Violence Archive.
The Gun Violence Archive (GVA), which compiles data on every reported gun violence incident in the United States from publicly available sources, defines a "mass shooting" as an event involving at least four people shot, excluding the shooter.
By the numbers:
According to the data, there were 340 mass shootings in the U.S. between January and October 14.
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Last year, there were a total of 503 mass shootings. In 2023, 659 mass shootings.
Gun violence a public health crisis
Dig deeper:
Last year, former U.S. surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis, driven by the fast-growing number of injuries and deaths involving firearms in the country.
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To drive down gun deaths, Murthy called on the U.S. to ban "assault weapons and large-capacity magazines for civilian use," introduce universal background checks for purchasing guns, regulate the industry, pass laws that would restrict their use in public spaces and penalize people who fail to safely store their weapons.
None of those suggestions can be implemented nationwide without legislation passed by Congress, which typically recoils at gun control measures. Some state legislatures, however, have enacted or may consider some of the surgeon general’s proposals.
Latest on gun safety measures in the U.S.
Big picture view:
There hasn't been any significant measure to limit gun control since former President Joe Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022.
The legislation toughens background checks for the youngest gun buyers, keeps firearms from more domestic violence offenders and helps states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people adjudged to be dangerous.
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Biden signs bipartisan gun safety bill into law
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Former President Biden signs the bipartisan gun violence bill, which will toughen background checks for the youngest gun buyers, keep firearms from more domestic violence offenders and help states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people adjudged to be dangerous.
While the new gun law does not include tougher restrictions long championed by Democrats, such as a ban on assault-style weapons and background checks for all firearm transactions, it is the most impactful gun violence measure produced by Congress since enactment of a long-expired assault weapons ban in 1993.
The Source: The information in this story comes primarily from data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.