You Wouldn't Believe How Many Mass Shootings There Have Been Since Uvalde, and By "Wouldn't Believe" We Mean "Absolutely Dreading This"
The world collectively sighed a breath of despair when news hit about the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24th, 2022. We all thought, "Surely, this can't happen again... so soon." Well, buckle up, buttercup, because we're about to dive into a stat so dreadful, it would make a mathematician cry.
The Numbers Game (Unfortunately, Not the Fun Kind)
There's no single, universally agreed-upon definition of a "mass shooting," but for the sake of this depressing exercise, let's consider a mass shooting as one with four or more people shot, excluding the shooter. (Because, let's face it, the shooter's day is already messed up enough.)
Now, depending on which organization you ask, the answer can vary slightly. But trust us, the variation is like asking if you want your root canal with or without polka music playing – it's still a root canal.
Here's a taste of the grimness:
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PolitiFact reported that in the 10 days following Uvalde, there were a staggering 20 more mass shootings in the US alone. Seriously, that's like a mass shooting a day for a week and a half.
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The Gun Violence Archive, which tracks gun violence in the US, paints an even bleaker picture. They report that in 2023 (the entire year, mind you), there were 33 mass shootings.
So, the short answer? Way too many. The long answer? Enough to make you want to hug a cactus.
But Hey, At Least We Have Memes, Right? (Right...?)
Look, we get it. This is heavy stuff. If you need a little dark humor to cope (because sometimes laughter is the only medicine left), the internet has you covered. Here's a sample meme making the rounds:
Me trying to stay optimistic after another mass shooting: Insert image of a flickering candle with smoke coming out the sides
It's not great, but hey, it's something.
On a Serious Note (Because There Has to Be One)
Mass shootings are a serious problem in the United States. This isn't just a number on a page, these are lives lost and communities shattered. We need to do better. We need to have conversations, demand change, and fight for a future where these tragedies become a horrifying footnote in history, not a sickeningly common occurrence.
Let's make this the last "How Many Mass Shootings" post we ever have to write.
