Despite preventative measures being put into place, mass shootings still plague festivities like the Texas State Fair. In the state of Texas, 18-year-olds can obtain a License to Carry after only a six hour training course and written examination. Graphic by Jolie Carlile
By Elaine Engel
Fourth of July parades, Super Bowl celebrations and the Texas State Fair. These once joyous celebrations have now become sites of harm and bloodshed.
According to the Congressional Research Service, a mass shooting is defined as "a multiple homicide incident in which four or more victims are murdered with firearms, within one event, and in one or more locations in close proximity."
No matter how gruesome the statistics, mass shootings really only require two things: a person with a gun and a group of people large enough to result in a high number of victims. In a reality where a bullet could rip through the air in seconds, public gatherings and celebrations, even those with security, pose a much higher risk than they once did.
According to Every Town Research, an organization dedicated to addressing the issue of gun violence in America, of the ten deadliest shootings in American history, half of the attacks took place in locations associated with community such as bars, nightclubs, streets and churches. In recent years, the threat of gun violence has become so great that public events and celebrations are no longer safe to attend.
More specifically, America’s birthday has become one of its worst days for gun violence, especially mass shootings. In 2023, 17 different shootings erupted across the country on the Fourth of July, leaving 20 dead and 126 more injured.
Even when countless resources are dedicated to prevent violence, bullets still manage to slip through the cracks. The shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade left hospitals overrun. Officials are already planning for the possibility of another attack. Super Bowl 59 will be held in New Orleans, and plans are already being made to attempt to ensure patrons safety. According to city security officials, this preparation includes practicing mass casualty event responses, specifically during public moments like parades.
This year’s parade was far from unprotected. Over 800 officers were stationed at the event, including multiple snipers positioned across rooftops. Nevertheless, the day still ended in 23 casualties. Despite their best efforts, police and security were unable to prevent devastation due to the sheer impossibility of their task. In a packed area with thousands of people, it is unreasonable to expect that an armed and dangerous person be discovered preemptively. Of the ten deadliest shootings in America, armed guards have been present at four of them, Uvalde being one of the most pressing examples.
Troubling still, the murder weapon may be totally legal until the second when the trigger is pulled. For example, it is entirely legal to bring a weapon into the Texas State Fair with a License to Carry. As long as deadly weapons are legally permitted, preventative measures are a dream at best.
Carrying a gun into the fair with a license may not be criminal, but it is criminally negligent on the part of government officials. A license to carry does not ensure a person will take adequate responsibility for said weapon. Easy access to guns is yet another reason why gun violence and mass shootings are much more common in states with more relaxed gun control laws. Texas is one of the 13 states that allows a person above the age of 21-years-old to open carry without a permit, and allows 18-year-olds to carry with a license. A person can buy a gun at 18-years-old, but cannot buy a beer until they are 21-years-old.
With the ease of gun access and the real threat of mass shootings, the only “solution” readily available to people is to avoid even every-day gatherings. According to 2019 data collected by the American Psychology Association, nearly one-third of American adults say that fear of a mass shooting regularly keeps them from going out.
Fear of gun violence has clearly woven itself deep into our culture, and rightfully so. But, being forced to hide from the chance of deadly violence is how people in active war zones live; it should not be the everyday reality of citizens in the “land of opportunity.”
Avoiding crowds and strangers may seem like an adequate temporary “solution”, but strong gun control legislation and enforcement is the real way to solve the problem.
Looking at the U.S.’s peers on the global stage, no other country even comes close to the number of mass shootings Americans endure. In short, when a mass shooting happens, other countries react with legislation, U.S. politicians react with sympathies. America needs to move past political trifles and prioritize the lives of its citizens.
When moments of joy and community can be destroyed in a heartbeat, the only option individuals are left with is to shy away from groups of their fellow citizens. But, politicians and organizations have a responsibility to collectively fight for life-saving regulations on guns.