Howdy Partner, Hold Your Horses! We're Wranglin' Up the Stats on Texas Shootings in 2023
Yeehaw! You might be wonderin', "Just how many times did the six-shooter symphony play out in Texas last year?" Well, buckle up, buttercup, 'cause we're about to lasso the truth and brand it with a fiery iron.
The Not-So-Good News: Texas Two-Steppin' with Tragedy
There's no sugar-coating it, folks. 2023 wasn't exactly a banner year for peace and quiet in the Lone Star State. According to Professor James Alan Fox, who's been studying this kinda ruckus for longer than some folks have been alive, Texas twanged out a record number of mass shootings – 39 to be exact. That's more shootouts than a John Wayne marathon!
Hold on Now, Partner, What Exactly is a Mass Shooting?
Now, before you start thinkin' every fender bender involved a stray bullet, let's clarify what we mean by "mass shooting." We ain't talkin' about Billy Bob accidentally plinking his own Stetson. A mass shooting typically involves four or more folks getting hurt by gunfire, and let's face it, that's never a hootenanny anyone wants to attend.
But Wait, There's More! (and it ain't good)
Texas wasn't just the top dog in the mass shooting rodeo; they also claimed the title for most mass killings in general. That means there were a few incidents where the body count went beyond those unfortunate varmints.
A Silver Lining (Maybe?)
Now, despite all this shootin' irons blazing, there is a tiny glimmer of hope. Thankfully, Texas didn't quite manage to outdraw the national record for total mass killings set in 2019. So, that's somethin', right? Like finding a ten-dollar bill in your dusty cowboy boots.
So What Now, Partner?
Look, this ain't exactly a cheerful topic, but knowledge is power, and maybe by shinin' a light on these numbers, we can start a conversation about how to make things a little less Wild West and a little more "Howdy Neighbor."
Remember, folks, gunslinger justice ain't the answer. Let's keep our six-shooters holstered and work together to make Texas a place where folks can settle their differences with a good ol' fashioned chili cook-off, not a bullet bonanza.
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