By: Ashley BergeronStaff-Writer
As 2023 is wrapping up, it would be useful to show how the year has been when it relates to gun violence. Overall, 2023 has fewer gun-related deaths than 2022, but the number is still relatively high.
If you want to see change, you can email or send a letter to your state representatives or local politicians. You can find out who your elected officials are on usa.gov/elected-officials.
Half of all gun-related deaths in 2023 were suicides. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call or text 988. On campus, there is also the counseling center in the Administration Building and TimelyCare online if you need to talk to somebody where it is not an emergency.
A summary of gun violence in 2023:
99% of gun violence acts are not mass shootings.
As of Nov. 28, 2023, 47 shootings occurred in South Bend in 2023, as opposed to the 99 shootings that occurred in South Bend in 2022.
In an average year, 1,086 people die by guns in Indiana.
In 2022, there were 44,430 gun-related deaths in the United States.
20,340 of those were homicide/murder/unintentional/defensive gun use (DGU), and 24,090 of those were suicide.
In 2023, there were 39,358 gun-related deaths in the United States.
17,314 of those were homicide/murder/unintentional/DGU, and 22,044 of those were suicide.
In 2023, there were 619 mass shootings in the United States.
13 of those were in Indiana, one of which was in South Bend.
In 2022, there were 645 mass shootings in the United States.
14 of those were in Indiana, two of which were in South Bend.