The Windy City and a not-so-breezy stat: How Many Mass Shootings in Chicago in 2023 (Spoiler Alert: It Wasn't a Water Gun Fight)
Hey there, news junkies and fellow citizens! Let's talk about Chicago, a city famous for deep dish pizza, stunning architecture, and...unfortunately, a not-so-delightful statistic: mass shootings.
Now, before you grab your fainting couch, let's delve into this with a dash of humor (because honestly, sometimes you gotta laugh to keep from crying, right?).
So, how many times did things get Wild Wild West in Chicago in 2023?
According to the folks at the Gun Violence Archive (who, by the way, probably have a lifetime supply of TUMS), there were 34 mass shootings in the city of broad shoulders. Ouch. That's a lot of bullets whizzing by faster than a deep dish disappearing at a Cubs game.
But wait, there's more! These weren't your average "shoot the milk carton" incidents. We're talking four or more people getting shot in a single event (not including the trigger-happy fella).
Side note: Is there a mass shooting discount at the ER in Chicago? Asking for a friend...not really, this is a terrible situation.
But hey, there's a silver lining, right? (Right?)
Actually, there kind of is! 2023 saw a decrease in mass shootings compared to previous years. We're talking like a participation trophy kind of decrease, but hey, progress is progress, even if it's measured in fewer bullets flying.
Although, that silver lining gets a little tarnished when you consider that 161 people were still killed or injured in those 34 incidents. So yeah, maybe hold off on the celebratory parade.
The bottom line (and it's not a happy one)
Look, Chicago has a gun violence problem, and mass shootings are a terrible part of that. But by acknowledging the issue, we can hopefully find ways to make things better.
Maybe we can all chip in and buy the city a giant slingshot? Just spitballing here (pun intended).
On a serious note, there are organizations working hard to reduce gun violence in Chicago. If you're interested in getting involved, check them out!
Because in the end, we all deserve to feel safe, even if we're just trying to score a slice of that deep dish goodness.
