Gun violence in America is a tale as old as time, but 2024 has brought new tragedies to an already grim narrative. With over 488 mass shootings this year alone, the crisis is far from abating, and the incoming President, Donald Trump, is doubling down on his pro-gun stance. 

Mass shootings—defined as incidents with four or more victims—have skyrocketed in recent years. Since 2020, the US has recorded over 600 mass shootings annually, averaging nearly two a day. This year, the deadliest incident occurred in Joliet, Illinois, where eight lives were lost.

But it’s not just public massacres that make headlines. Over 48,000 people died from gun-related injuries in 2021, a figure that highlights the pervasive role of firearms in everyday American life. While suicides account for over half of these deaths, homicides claim more than 20,000 lives annually.

Guns are now the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the US. A recent shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, where a 15-year-old opened fire in a classroom, underscores the horrifying regularity of these tragedies.

Trump’s America: Guns over reform

President-elect Donald Trump is leaning heavily into his defence of the Second Amendment. Speaking at the National Rifle Association (NRA) Great American Outdoor Show in February, he assured gun owners that “no one will lay a finger on your firearms” under his administration.

Throughout his campaign for the presidency, Trump made it clear: “Every single Biden attack on gun owners and manufacturers will be terminated on my very first week back in office, perhaps my first day”. Trump’s rhetoric resonates with many conservatives, but his track record reveals a mixed approach.

During his previous term, Trump enacted the 2017 bump stock (devices that increase the rate of fire of semi-automatic weapons) ban following the Las Vegas massacre, which killed 58 people. Yet, he rolled back Obama-era regulations that made it harder for individuals with mental illnesses to purchase firearms.

His administration also narrowed the definition of “fugitive from justice,” making it easier for individuals with outstanding warrants to acquire guns. This policy change led to the purging of 500,000 records from the federal background check system, a move critics called reckless and unlawful.

At a White House session after the 2018 Parkland school shooting, Trump floated controversial ideas, such as arming teachers and offering bonuses to those “adept at guns.” While these proposals faced backlash, they signalled his preference for hardening schools rather than restricting gun access.

Trump’s Vice President-elect, JD Vance, has also faced criticism for his stance on gun violence. Following a school shooting in early October, Vance referred to school shootings as a “fact of life” in modern America. Instead of addressing gun control, he called for better school security, arguing that fortifying schools would do more to protect children than introducing stricter gun laws. 

Public opinion and political divides

Americans remain divided on gun control. A Gallup poll in late 2022 found that 57% of respondents supported stricter gun laws, with Democrats overwhelmingly in favour and Republicans largely opposed. The US leads the world in civilian gun ownership, with 120.5 firearms per 100 residents—a staggering ratio that dwarfs other nations.

Some states, like California, have implemented stricter gun laws, including bans on assault weapons. But Trump’s alignment with the NRA and his emphasis on gun rights suggest little appetite for federal reforms.

As Trump prepares to take office in January, the US faces an enduring crisis of gun violence. His administration’s policies, past and future, will likely stoke the fiery debate between gun rights and gun control advocates. For now, America’s gun epidemic rages on with no clear end in sight.