An Alarming Surge: Gun Violence Dominates Headlines Across the U.S.
Recent incidents of gun violence in the United States have once again brought the issue to the forefront of national attention. Within a span of a few weeks, the country has witnessed multiple high-profile shootings, including the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a speech in Utah and a shooting at a Colorado high school that left two students critically injured (source). A mass shooting at a Minnesota Catholic church earlier resulted in the deaths of two children and injured 21 others (source).
These incidents highlight the pervasive nature of gun violence, particularly in schools and politically motivated scenarios. Experts from various fields, including mass shootings, political violence, and school safety, have weighed in to provide context and insights into these alarming trends.
Are Mass Shootings Increasing?
The definition of a mass shooting can vary, which complicates the tracking of such events. The Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium considers incidents with at least two victims in public spaces, excluding gang-related or terrorist activities (source). By this measure, 2025 has seen 12 mass shootings. Alternatively, the Gun Violence Archive’s broader criteria, which includes incidents with four or more victims, counts over 300 mass shootings this year (source).
Garen Wintemute, director of the Centers for Violence Prevention at the University of California, Davis, noted that while mass shootings are more frequent now than 50 years ago, they represent only a small fraction of overall gun violence. “Most mass shootings are not events that generate a lot of publicity,” he said, with many linked to domestic violence.
What About School Shootings?
Gun incidents in schools have risen significantly since the pandemic, according to David Riedman, who maintains the K-12 School Shooting Database. More than 160 incidents have been recorded this year alone. Riedman attributes this increase to disputes that escalate, especially after students returned post-COVID.
He emphasized that many students involved do not intend to carry out shootings but may bring guns to school for status or protection. “There are students arrested with guns at schools just about every single day,” Riedman noted.
Are Politically Motivated Attacks on the Rise?
Political violence has been increasing over the past decade, according to experts in terrorism and gun violence. Joshua Horwitz of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions highlighted a significant rise in political intimidation and violence recently.
The U.S. Capitol Police reported investigating over 9,400 threats against Congress members in 2024, more than double the number from 2017 (source). Research by UC Davis’s Wintemute found that individuals with multiple prejudices were more likely to justify political violence (source).
How Widespread Is Gun Violence?
Gun violence remains a significant issue, with over 46,000 gun-related deaths in 2023, according to Pew Research Center analysis of CDC data. Suicides account for the majority of these deaths.
A survey by KFF revealed that 1 in 5 Americans have been threatened with a gun, and nearly 1 in 6 have witnessed a shooting (source). “Experiences with gun-related incidents are more common than you might think,” said Liz Hamel, reflecting the survey’s findings.
The survey also found that 84% of participants have taken precautions against gun violence, with common measures including discussions about gun safety and avoiding large crowds. A significant portion also purchased firearms for self-defense, emphasizing the need for better awareness about safe gun storage practices.
