The number of mass shootings in Oregon has decreased this year, so far. The U.S., on the other hand, has passed the 500 mark. Several high-profile incidents have left scars on the state’s collective memory. One such event occurred at Umpqua Community College in 2015 when a lone gunman opened fire, leaving nine people dead and several others injured.
A shooting that wounded four people in Denver, Colorado on Saturday marked the country’s 500th mass shooting in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive, an independent research and data collection organization. Mass shootings are complex issues with multiple contributing factors.
Another devastating incident unfolded at the Clackamas Town Center in 2012, where a gunman killed two people and injured one before taking his own life. These incidents, among others, have raised concerns about the prevalence of mass shootings in Oregon. In Oregon, of the 24 mass shootings the Gun Violence Archive has recorded since 2014, 18 occurred in the Portland metro area.
Just five years ago, the country had never experienced 500 mass shootings in one year, but by 2020 the number crossed 600 and has kept climbing. Shootings in Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois and North Carolina have since moved the number higher. Advocates for stricter gun control laws argue that limiting access to firearms, particularly high-capacity weapons, can reduce the severity and frequency of mass shootings. Oregon has seen some legislative changes in this area, such as the implementation of mandatory background checks for private gun sales.
Oregon gun owners are challenging a new state law that restricts magazine size to 10 rounds and requires training and a completed background check before buying a firearm. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, it is imperative that communities, lawmakers, and individuals work together to address the underlying causes, improve mental health support, and enact sensible gun control measures.
