July 4 is the “Independence Day” of the United States. However, the joy of Americans celebrating the “Independence Day” holiday was once again shattered by gunfire. In the past few days, there have been multiple shooting incidents in many places in the United States, causing dozens of deaths and injuries.
A shooting incident occurred on the evening of the 3rd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the local police confirmed that 5 people were killed and 4 others were injured in the shooting incident. Local police have detained a man wearing a bulletproof vest and another man who may be involved in the case. Police also found a rifle and a pistol in a street near the incident. The shooter’s motive is unclear.
Police in Fort Worth, Texas, said on the 4th that a shooting occurred at an “Independence Day” celebration in downtown Fort Worth near midnight on the 3rd. Gunshots rang out during fireworks, killing at least 3 people and 8 others. Injuried. When the police arrived, they found multiple people who had been shot in the parking lot where the event was held, including a minor.
One woman and two children were killed and two others were injured in a shooting incident at a home in St. Louis County, Missouri, USA on the evening of the 3rd.
In the early hours of the 2nd, a shooting occurred at a street party in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, resulting in 2 deaths and 28 injuries, 3 of whom were seriously injured. An eyewitness said that there were hundreds of people at the party, and suddenly there were 20 or 30 gunshots. The Baltimore shooting became one of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States this year, second only to the April 15 mass shooting in Dadeville, Alabama, which left four dead and 28 injured.
In addition, nine people were injured in a shooting at an entertainment venue in Wichita, Kansas, on the 2nd. In addition to the shooting, two people were injured due to pushing and trampling during the fleeing process of the crowd at the scene.
The population of the United States is about 330 million, but the number of private guns exceeds 400 million. Gun-related violence has become the “normal” of American social life. The “New York Daily” reported a few days ago that due to the frequent mass shootings in recent years, some Americans are nervous about participating in this year’s “Independence Day” large-scale activities.
Keira, a Philadelphia resident: When fireworks are set off during the festival, someone will take the opportunity to shoot and use the sound of fireworks to cover up the gunshots.
Highland Park marks one-year anniversary of shooting
There was a serious shooting incident on July 4 last year, the “Independence Day” in the United States. In Highland Park, Illinois, gunmen fired bullets at ordinary people participating in a festival parade, causing a large number of deaths and injuries. On July 4 this year, Highland Park held a commemorative event to honor the victims of the shooting a year ago.
On the same day, Highland Park held a commemorative event. Mayor Rotlin said in his speech that last year’s shooting incident caused great psychological trauma to the local people, and shooting incidents should not become “normal.”
Highland Park Mayor Rothling: As a community, we know that the impact of gun violence on victims and their families is devastating and never-ending. It is a basic human right that everyone should live free of the terrorism of gun violence.
Subsequently, local people went to the scene of the shooting incident last year to start a demonstration. It is understood that more than 5,000 people signed up in advance to participate in the commemorative activities on the day, and the local area has raised the security level for this event.
Independence Day shooting in Highland Park
On July 4 last year, a shooting occurred during the “Independence Day” parade in Highland Park, Illinois, USA. Gunman Robert Cremo III fired more than 70 shots into festival crowds with an AR-15 rifle on a rooftop, killing seven people and injuring 48. Before the incident, Kerimo had threatened to kill, but the police said that “there was no reasonable reason to arrest him.” Kerimo finally obtained a legal license to hold a gun and purchased the murder weapon used in this shooting. At present, Kerimo has been arrested and is in prison, facing multiple murder charges.
Political polarization, partisanship, rampant gun violence
The continuous gunshots during the “Independence Day” holiday reminded the American people all the time that the stubborn disease of gun violence is always in their lives. However, in the eyes of American politicians, the expectation of the American people to strictly control guns is only a tool used to carry out partisan struggle and attack political opponents. In the politically polarized environment of the United States, the problem of gun violence has become an incurable disease.
On July 4, local time, U.S. President Biden issued a statement on recent gun violence incidents, calling on Republican members of Congress to negotiate on gun reform and propose a series of gun control measures.
However, this is not the first time that Biden has made similar statements, and such statements have not changed the status quo of the rampant gun violence in the United States. Because in the politically polarized environment of the United States, almost any issue, such as gun control, immigration, and the debt ceiling, is regarded by the American Democratic and Republican parties as a tool for competing for political interests. Due to the serious differences and long-term confrontation between the two parties on the issue of gun control, the US Congress has been unable to pass any major federal gun control laws for a long time.
Some American media and the public believe that the differences between the two parties on the issue of gun control are difficult to reconcile, and the statements of politicians are just repeating the same old tune, which is a “routine” to deal with shooting incidents and cannot fundamentally solve the problem. CNN commented that the differences between the two parties on the issue of gun control have further torn the United States and hindered efforts to prevent tragedies from happening again. Many Americans believe that after the shooting incident, Republican politicians quickly “waited and prayed” or remained silent, while Democratic politicians quickly called for gun control reform. This kind of political show made the American people tired.
It is even more difficult for huge interest groups to manipulate the issue of gun control
In addition, the manufacturing, trading and use of guns in the United States is a huge industrial chain, in which huge interest groups have been formed. Gun-owning organizations represented by the National Rifle Association of the United States continue to provide political donations for the US presidential and congressional elections, making the issue of gun control even more difficult.
Scholars: The US political system cannot listen to the voices of the people
In April of this year, John Donoghue, a professor at Stanford Law School, published an article in the Atlantic Monthly stating that gun violence has become “a problem that the United States cannot solve.” He said mass shootings were a serious and worsening problem that placed a heavy burden on the public and “illustrated the inability of the American political system to adopt many popular public policy strategies,” which is the U.S. “National disgrace”. If American politicians still refuse to listen to the voice of the people, Americans may never be able to celebrate “Independence Day” with peace of mind.
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2023-07-05 06:17:30
