| 538. That’s the number of mass shootings that have claimed the lives of hundreds of people and injured thousands since DTV released the 2017 special In the Line of Fire on April 28th. Three of the more notable shootings that occurred after In the Line of Fire are the Las Vegas shooting on October 1st, the Texas Church shooting on November 5th and the Parkland shooting on February 14th, 2018.
The Las Vegas Shooting that took place at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival is the deadliest mass shooting committed by an individual in US history. Steven Paddock opened fire and killed 58 victims, and injured 500 more. His AR-15 rifle was equipped with a bump stock, making it capable of rapid fire. His motives are unknown, and will remain unknown, as Paddock was later found dead in the his hotel room, having shot himself using the same weapon from the massacre. At the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, David Patrick Kelley carried out 26 killings. To add to the deaths, 20 others were injured in the deadliest shooting in Texas history. This was sparked by an argument between Kelley and his mother-in-law, a member of the church. Kelley died during a police chase from a self inflicted gunshot to the head. Awareness for these massacres drastically rose after the Parkland shooting in Florida. This took place on February 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school. Killing 17 students and faculty, and injuring 14, this shooting caused an uprising and brought light to this epidemic, not only to adults, but to students as well. DTV News spoke to Officer Chad Haynes about how he feels about the impact the shootings have had on our country, “I think we’ve become more alert to the dangers around us.” Teens everywhere are raising their voices and trying to make a difference in the world. Florida has made their gun laws stricter when they raised the minimum age to purchase guns, established a waiting period, and banned bump stocks. On top of that, there was the March for our Lives that took place on March 24th, a worldwide protest that brought people together for what they believe in.
Despite these changes, the number of mass shootings has still seen a rapid increase over time. Just ten years ago, there were 8, killing a total of 27 and injuring 23. In 2017 alone, there were 427. The rise in these killings has been credited to multiple reasons, from the easy ability to obtain a gun, to the publicity that these murderers gain. Some believe that because of the media coverage, the killers are trying to outdo the ones before them. No matter what the cause of the shootings may be, they’re still tragic and horrific events. If you notice or hear suspicious behavior, contact law enforcement immediately. You may be able to stop another one of these incidents from occurring. If you’d like to see DTV News’ full-length special about mass shootings, you can check it out here.
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