There have been at least 39 mass shootings in the first 24 days of 2023, signifying America’s ongoing gun problem. At least 70 people have been killed and 167 wounded so far in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. There have been more mass shootings this month than in Januarys over the past decade, despite Congress pushing for more gun control than ever. In June of 2022, congress passed a gun control bill to impose stricter background checks and encourage states to remove guns from people considered a threat. However, the provisions have not seemed to be enough, as there have been repeated calls for tighter federal gun control laws. In addition, the Supreme Court has continually blocked calls for gun restrictions in numerous states. Just this month in New York, justices denied a request by dealers to block the law, which included gun safety requirements for retailers. In California, the Supreme Court has blocked multiple restrictions, including the purchase of high-capacity magazines.
With a surge in gun violence across America, more decisive action has been encouraged, with Senate Democrats introducing a Federal Assault Weapons Ban and legislation raising the minimum purchase age for assault weapons to 21. President Joe Biden urged chambers of congress to act quickly to keep America’s communities safe. The Federal Assault Weapons Ban would stop selling, transferring, manufacturing, and importing military-style assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and other high-capacity ammunition-feeding devices. The Age 21 Act would raise the purchase age from 18 to 21, the exact requirement that currently exists for federally purchased handguns. Laws imposing an age requirement are intended to decrease access to firearms for youth, ultimately decreasing the number of suicides, homicides, and unintentional shootings. The primary support for the Age 21 Act has been driven by studies that found 17% of offenders would have been prohibited from buying a gun if their state had raised the minimum age to 21. Looking at the numbers, reforms already issued have not successfully curbed gun violence in America. Tighter reforms will need to be made if America wants change to prevail.