The figures for gun violence are already alarming in the United States, while the peak in summer crime has not yet passed. Several mayors called on Joe Biden to take action.
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While some American states wish to relax their legislation on firearms, in particular Texas which will authorize carrying without a license, violence linked to this type of weaponry is exploding.
No less than 19 shootings took place in the past week, reports CNN, citing data from the Gun Violence Archive. Beyond the mass killings, including that of San Jose which killed eight people at the end of May, it is the total number of deaths by bullets which exploded by 19% this year compared to last year and by 38% by compared to 2019.
Despite the controls, the appearance of new firearms, sometimes handcrafted, confused the authorities.
“We know that loopholes exist at gun shows, loopholes exist concerning online sales, the appearance of” ghost guns ” [fabriqués artisanalement, ndlr] and 3D printed guns are also a real problem for us, ”Brian Lemek, director of The Brady Pac, an association fighting against gun violence, explains to CNN.
A situation that worries in high places, while the Biden administration has promised to release $ 2.1 billion (nearly 1.7 billion euros) in 2022 to curb this type of violence.
Insufficient for the mayors of several American cities, from Los Angeles to Seattle, who sent a letter to the government in mid-May. These notably called for strengthening background checks when purchasing firearms. The prospect of a bloody summer worries observers, according to CNN, as the summer peak in crime has yet to be reached.
Added to this are the questions about the positioning of the police, a little over a year after the death of George Floyd. Debates follow one another between supporters of a proactive police force, multiplying controls, and those of a more reactive police force. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, some activists even propose to disarm the police or direct part of their budget to other sectors, as advocated by the slogan “Defund the police”.
Texas going against the grain
Not all US states are in favor of tighter gun control, however. This is evidenced by a new law promulgated by Texas on the matter. From September 1, the carrying of a weapon in public and without a license will in effect be authorized in this state. Anyone over 21 will be able to wear a weapon without having to request specific authorization.
Approved by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, the passage of the law sparked an outcry from the Democrats. On Twitter, Veronica Escobar, Texas elected to the House of Representatives, had accused the authorities “of betraying the victims of violence by firearms” through this measure.
However, the United States is not the only one to experience a surge in this type of violence in recent years. While most European countries have seen gunshot deaths decline since the 2000s, the case of Sweden continues to cause concern. In 2020, the Scandinavian country saw further gun attacks increase by 10% on its soil, reported a recent study by the Swedish Crime Prevention Council (BRA). Almost 40% of violent deaths there today are linked to firearms.
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