There Have Been 600 Mass Shootings in 2022 — Here's What You Can Do to Help

There have been more than 600 mass shootings in the United States in 2022 alone, with at least 26 mass shootings since the start of November, per the Gun Violence Archive. The vast majority of these home-grown terrorists — because they are terrorists — are white men (Rockefeller reports that more than 95 percent of mass shooters are male, and almost 55 percent are white). The ACLU of New York has highlighted the ways in which white supremacy and patriarchy (two inherently violent structures) cross-pollinate and contribute to these kinds of attacks.

But gun control is another major issue, with many governments unable to pass meaningful gun reforms due to ongoing gridlocks in Congress, per CBS. The issue is particularly frustrating as mass shooters are increasingly using semiautomatic (or comparable) weapons to kill their victims, and these weapons are often bought legally, per USA Today.

Every single mass shooting in the United States is another reminder that this country has not done nearly enough to address the largely preventable issue of gun violence. This week alone, the United States has witnessed the attack on Club Q, a gay bar in Colorado Springs, CO, on Nov. 20, coinciding with Trans Day of Remembrance. Then on Nov. 23, another mass shooting in Chesapeake, VA, resulted in 6 dead, in addition to the shooter himself via a self-inflicted gunshot wound, per CNN. And on Nov. 13, a student shot and killed three students and injured two others at the University of Virginia, per The New York Times.

These past two weeks of fresh violence come on the heels of the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX, representing the largest loss of life in a mass elementary-school shooting since Sandy Hook in 2012, leaving 21 dead, including 19 children. And that horrific loss came just 10 days after a shooter killed 10 people in a racially motivated attack at a Buffalo, NY, supermarket.

It’s easy to feel helpless in moments like these, to feel like you can’t do anything but doomscroll on Twitter while losing hope that we’re capable of change. The truth is that there are actions we can all take, and while they may not feel world-shaking in the moment, small acts can lead to bigger progress over time. For example, you can directly support the communities of Uvalde and Colorado Springs by donating to fundraisers created by victims’ loved ones. You can research your local representatives’ stances on gun reform and vote for candidates who support common-sense gun-safety laws, like banning assault rifles and requiring universal background checks. You can also donate to gun-reform organizations working to enact this change at local and federal levels.

It’s clear that thoughts and prayers are not preventing gun violence from occurring every day in the US. If this moment is moving you to take action, see below for a selection of organizations pushing for gun reform that you can donate to today.

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