The Kansas City Shooting Underlines the Stark Reality of Gun Violence in the US
The city of Kansas saw a horrific incident unfold on February 14, 2024. Hundreds had gathered at the Union Station in celebration after the Chiefs’ Superbowl triumph, when happiness turned into a nightmare. Despite more than 800 police officers stationed at the parade for security, a mass shooting occurred, resulting in one fatality and 21 injured victims, 11 of whom were children. Three individuals have been detained and multiple firearms confiscated in relation to the incident, attributed to an escalating interpersonal dispute.
The Proliferation of Guns: A Pervasive Issue
This unfortunate incident in Kansas City sheds light on the dark reality of gun violence in America. The stark truth remains that despite the country’s advancements, it struggles with a proliferation of guns and weak gun control policies, leading to an alarming frequency of mass shootings.
“Parades, rallies, schools, movies, it seems like almost nothing is safe,” stated Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, poignantly summarising the sombre reality. His statement not only reflected on the current state of affairs but also subtly critiqued the concept of the “good guy with a gun.” This idea suggests that instead of limiting access to guns, we should arm more individuals like security personnel to ensure public safety. But as we saw at the Chiefs’ victory parade, even a significant presence of law enforcement could not prevent the tragic shooting.
The Unique American Problem: High Gun Ownership
The US stands out among industrialized nations for its high frequency of fatal gun violence. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), the number of homicides caused by gun violence in the US was 18 times higher than the average recorded in other developed countries in 2019. Similarly, gun ownership in the US dwarfs that of any other developed nation, with about 120 firearms per 100 residents. This figure is far higher compared to the next closest country, Yemen, which has about 53 firearms per 100 residents.
The Fallacy of the ‘Good Guy with a Gun’ Argument
As we grapple with these grim statistics, the argument that more guns could be the solution to gun violence struggles to hold water. Advocates for this idea argue that “good guys with guns” can neutralize “bad guys with guns.” However, real World events like the Kansas City shooting suggest otherwise.
Despite the armed security and police presence, this tragic incident still took place resulting in a fatality and many injuries. “We had over 800 officers there, staffed, situated all around Union Station today. We had security in any number of places, eyes on top of buildings and beyond — and there still is a risk to people,” Mayor Lucas stated, emphasising the limitations of this approach.
Increasing the presence of ‘good guys with guns’ has proven inefficient in curbing gun violence. Research indicates that police are only able to stop less than a third of active attacks including shootings. Therefore, the Kansas City incident underscores the harsh reality that the primary issue resides in our accessibility to guns.
Conclusion
The recent Kansas City shooting forced us to confront the harsh reality of America’s struggle with gun violence, highlighting the urgent need for improved gun control measures. Despite a robust security presence, the incident still occurred, debunking the notion of ‘more guns for safety.’ Rather, it serves as a stark reminder that access to guns remains a fundamental problem that needs to be addressed urgently.
