As of July 14, 2023, the United States has experienced a distressing total of 32 school shootings this year. This figure includes 18 incidents on college campuses and 14 at K-12 schools. Tragically, these events have resulted in 14 fatalities and left at least 40 individuals injured. This information is based on a comprehensive analysis conducted by CNN, utilizing reports from the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week, and Everytown for Gun Safety.
The criteria for these incidents include any gunfire occurring on school property, which encompasses buildings, fields, parking lots, stadiums, and school buses. Notably, the analysis includes accidental discharges of firearms as long as at least one person is shot, excluding situations where the only shooter is law enforcement or school security.
Rising Trends in School Shootings
The trend of school shootings has intensified significantly since the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools were closed and incidents of gun violence on school grounds saw a sharp decline. In recent years, the data reveals a worrying escalation, with 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 marking record highs for school shootings, surpassing numbers recorded since at least 2008. Notably, there were at least 83 school shooting incidents reported in 2024 alone.
Among these years, 2022 stands out as particularly deadly, with a total of 47 fatalities linked to school shootings. The tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two educators lost their lives and many others were injured, highlighted the urgent need for solutions to gun violence in educational settings.
Geographical Disparities and Activism
Data reveals significant geographic disparities in the occurrence of school shootings across the United States. Certain southern states have reported the highest rates of school shootings relative to their populations since 2008. For instance, Washington, D.C. recorded the highest rate, with six total shootings, equating to nearly one incident per 100,000 residents. In contrast, Texas reported the highest overall number of school shootings, totaling 64 incidents.
Conversely, five states—Montana, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island—reported no school shootings during this period, showcasing a stark contrast in gun violence trends across the nation.
The rise in school shootings has prompted students and educators to engage in activism, advocating for measures to combat gun violence. Many educators have left the profession, citing safety concerns as a primary factor. This trend underlines the profound impact these events have not only on the victims and their families but also on the educational community as a whole.
As the situation continues to evolve, discussions around gun control and safety measures in schools remain at the forefront of public discourse, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address this pressing issue.
