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American Gun Violence and Reform Efforts

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Semi-Automatic Rifle Statistics From A New "Active Shooter" Study Reveal How Deadly The Guns Are

On Tuesday, the Journal of the American Medical Association released a new report examining shooting incidents in the United States. Semi-automatic rifle statistics from this new "active shooter" study revealed the highly deadly nature of these guns, finding that more people are killed in shooting incidents in which a semi-automatic rifle is involved, as opposed to those in which another weapon is used by a perpetrator.

The study examined 248 active shooter incidents from 2000-2017. As the stud
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NRA Insists Las Vegas Mass Shooting Was Impossible To Prevent

During an interview on Fox and Friends on Monday, an NRA spokesperson insisted that the Las Vegas mass shooting was impossible to prevent, implying instead that the organization was waiting for "red flags" to come out about the shooter — and adding another layer to the organization's controversial response to the Las Vegas shooting.

NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch made these comments during Monday's episode of Fox and Friends while discussing the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas at the Rouge 91 H
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How Much Is Gun Culture Costing America? Emergency Hospital Care Costs Are Through The Roof

A recent analysis published in the Health Affairs journal revealed that gun culture is costing Americans billions of dollars each year. The study, which was coincidentally released the day after the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas, revealed that in addition to substantial emotional and societal expenses, there are also profound financial costs associated with gun violence in the U.S.

To examine the cost of gun violence in the U.S., the study, according to Newsweek, used data from the Healthca
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Mass Shootings In America Are A "Serious Public Health Issue" According To Doctors

Following this weekend's horrendous mass shooting in Las Vegas, in which at least 59 people were killed and hundreds were injured, the American College of Physicians issued a statement calling mass shootings in America a "serious public health issue" and demanded a ban on automatic and semiautomatic weapons.

The American College of Physicians (ACP), a national organization of internal medicine physicians, issued its statement about mass shooting on Monday. In the statement, the organization not
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This Las Vegas Death Toll Update Makes It The Worst Shooting In U.S. History

At least 50 people have been confirmed dead following a mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. The number of deceased makes the Vegas shooting the deadliest in modern U.S. history, tragically ahead of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando last June, in which 49 people died.

On Sunday evening, shortly after 10 p.m. local time, a barrage of gunshots were reportedly fired from the Mandalay Bay hotel into crowds attending the nearby Route 91 Harvest Festival on the V
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What Is The Route 91 Harvest Festival? Over 50 Concert-Goers Were Reportedly Killed

More than 50 people have reportedly been killed in a shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. Local police have reportedly shot and killed the person they have identified as responsible for the shooting and do not believe another shooter is at large.

The Route 91 Harvest Festival is a three-day country music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. The venue for the sold-out concert was located on the Las Vegas Strip near the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and around 40,000 people were in
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Are Mass Shootings Getting Deadlier? Two Of The Worst Were In The Past 35 Days

On Sunday morning, a mass shooting at a baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas killed at least 26 people. That casualty count makes the shooting one of the deadliest in modern U.S. history, which means that two of America's deadlier shootings have occurred just in the last 35 days. The Harvest Music Festival shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, which occurred on Oct. 1, killed 58 people.

Sadly, these statistics point to the established notion that mass shootings in America are becoming deadlier
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American Medical Association Is Backing Gun Control Proposals With A "New Sense Of Urgency"

Following a spate of mass shootings this year and widespread gun violence, many around the United States have grown increasingly concerned about lawmakers' refusal to take concerted action on gun control. This lack of action has prompted others to step up to the plate. On Tuesday, the American Medical Association revealed it's backing gun control proposals with a "new sense of urgency." The organization referred to gun violence as a disease which is profoundly impacting American society.

The Am
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The Parkland Students' '60 Minutes' Interview Reveals The Powerful Reason They Refuse To Endorse Politicians

On Sunday, students who survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School — and are now actively involved in gun control advocacy — sat down for an interview. During the interview, the Parkland students told CBS' 60 Minutes how they're walking the fine line of accepting some help from politicians, but never enough to let them co-opt the movement.

Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi interviewed Alex Wind, Jaclyn Corin, David Hogg, Cameron Kasky, and Emma Gonzalez, the founders of the Never
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Is Gun Control A Feminist Issue? Here's Why They Can't Be Viewed Independently

The massacre in Las Vegas caused the loss of many lives — and also served as a macabre reminder of the importance of gun control. Moreover, the Las Vegas shooting has once again brought to light a significant but often-overlooked issue: why gun control and feminism are so intertwined.

Gun control and feminism are intrinsically linked for myriad reasons, particularly because most mass shooters have a history of violence against women and because guns are frequently a lethal tool of domestic viol
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A Pennsylvania Church's AR-15 Blessing Event Is Basically Forcing A Nearby School To Close For A Day

The Wallenpaupack Area School District in Pennsylvania recently announced it will be closing one of its elementary schools due to a nearby, church-led semi-automatic rifle blessing event on Wednesday. While the superintendent of the school district, Michael Silsby, told parents that there is "no direct threat" to students from the event, he cited traffic issues and the "nature of the event" as reasons for the closure.

According to the Times-Tribune, the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in
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Dinesh D’Souza Mocks Florida Shooting Survivors After Bill To Ban Assault Rifles Fails

On Twitter on Tuesday night, conservative author Dinesh D'Souza mocked Parkland, Florida shooting survivors after a motion to consider a bill banning assault rifles in the state failed to pass the legislature. It started when D'Souza commented on an Associated Press photo depicting shooting survivors watching in the gallery as the legislature voted down the motion. Those depicted in the photograph were visibly upset, with one student from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Sheryl Acquarola, a
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New Wisconsin Gun Law Lets Kids Of Any Age Hunt If An Adult "Mentor" Is Present

As of Saturday, a recently-enacted law in Wisconsin allows all children to hunt with guns as long as an adult is present, regardless of a child's age. The law's primary stipulation is that the adult has to be within arm's length of the child while hunting, though both the adult and child can have their own weapons. The new law is controversial, as some believe it poses a safety threat, while others note that it allows parents to determine what is best for their child, rather than the government.
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Texas' Attorney General Suggests More Guns Equal Less Violence In Wake Of State's Deadliest Mass Shooting

In the wake of Sunday's horrific shooting at a Texas church that killed at least 26 people, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asserted that mass shootings would be prevented if more people carried concealed guns. But research shows that more people having guns does not stop mass shootings. In fact, untrained armed civilians can often complicate police efforts to stop shooters or conduct investigations.

First and foremost, increasingly arming civilians to stop mass shootings is imprud
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Trump Says The Texas Church Shooting Isn’t A “Guns Situation” — It's A "Mental Health Problem"

Following Sunday morning's horrific shooting at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, in which at least 26 people were killed, President Donald Trump shared his thoughts on the cause of the shooting during a press conference in Tokyo. Trump said that the Texas church shooting isn't a "guns situation," but, rather, a result of the shooter's "mental health problems."

As the president told reporters at the aforementioned news conference:

As reported by The Guardian, Sunday's shooting at
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How To Stop "Downloadable Guns" From Turning Into Real-Life Deadly Weapons

3-d prBeginning next month, Americans will be able to access gun blueprints online and use those blueprints to create guns with a 3-D printer, essentially producing "downloadable guns." If this sounds disconcerting to you, there are a couple of ways you can help stop downloadable guns from becoming readily accessible.

As USA Today reported, the aforementioned gun blueprints are set to become available online on Aug. 1. These blueprints were developed by an organization called Defense Distribute
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Levi Strauss Is Joining The Gun Violence Debate Because "Doing Nothing Is No Longer An Option"

One of the United States' most famous denim companies is taking a stand on an issue that profoundly affects American society. Levi Strauss is joining the gun control debate, with the company announcing the launch of a three part plan to help stop gun violence. While it is perhaps unexpected to see an apparel company involved in gun control advocacy, the organization's CEO believes it is business' responsibility as powerful economic and political players to help protect Americans' safety.

Levi S
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Colorado's "Red Flag" Gun Bill Is One Step Away From Being Signed Into Law

This week, Colorado lawmakers made it clear that addressing gun violence is a priority for the state. Colorado's "red flag" gun bill is one step away from becoming law, meaning that law enforcement authorities in the state will likely soon be able to confiscate the firearms of individuals who have been deemed a threat to themselves or others. If the governor signs the bill, Colorado will join a handful of other states across the country with similar measures in place.

As CNN reported, the red f

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