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The Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City, Missouri, was another joyful celebration marred by America’s gun violence, but there are dangers lurking as Americans gather to celebrate, honor and commemorate.
Although the likelihood of a single event becoming a scene of violence is relatively small, tragedy after tragedy has become part of the national psyche. Meanwhile, some politicians and advocates are once again questioning where in the United States it is truly safe to gather for celebrations.
In 2017, a gunman fired more than 11,000 rounds of ammunition at an outdoor country music concert near a Las Vegas hotel, killing 60 people as the fans cringed in fear. In 2022, a man with a rifle opened fire at a July 4th parade in a Chicago suburb. His parents fled for their lives with their children in their arms, leaving seven people dead.
Now, 11 children were gunned down shortly after the Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City on Wednesday. There, thousands of red-clad fans ran for their lives through confetti-dusted streets. Interim Fire Chief Ross Grandison said 22 people, including one deceased person, suffered gunshot wounds.
“I think it’s something that all of us as parents, and just normal people living every day, have to decide what we want to do,” he said, along with his wife and mother, who was at the parade. said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who participated. They had to run for cover when the shooting occurred.
“Parades, rallies, schools, movies. Very little seems safe,” he said.
Mass shootings continue at US celebrations
Bullets at sporting events, parades, and concerts are still relatively rare. But they resonate deeply in a country with a long tradition of coming together and celebrating. Numerous examples have made national headlines in recent years.
- baltimore Homecoming celebration in October 2023: A shooting at Morgan State University leaves five people injured during a homecoming celebration in northeast Baltimore. The incident led to the historically black university being placed on lockdown for several hours and campus leaders canceling homecoming activities for the rest of the week.
- California Chinese New Year Celebration in January 2023: After Lunar New Year celebrations in Monterey Park, California, a gunman opens fire at a dance studio, killing 11 people and injuring nine others. The incident occurred at the studio, which is popular among older residents of the tight-knit, predominantly Asian-American city.
- Texas concert in April 2022: One man was killed and 16 people were injured in a shooting at an outdoor concert in Dallas, Texas. A scuffle broke out during the event, and two men have been charged with firing shots into the crowd during the concert.
- 2022 Chicago Suburban Fourth of July Parade: A gunman armed with an AR-15 style rifle opened fire from a rooftop during the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois. The attack occurred about 15 minutes after the parade began, leaving seven people dead and 48 injured.
- Florida Concerts in May 2021: Three gunmen open fire outside a ballroom in Miami-Dade County, Florida, killing two people and injuring at least 20 others. The hall had been rented out for hip-hop concerts.
- Milwaukee NBA Championship Celebration July 2021: On the night the Bucks won their first NBA title in 50 years, two shootings in downtown Milwaukee left three people with non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting occurred across the Milwaukee River from the Bucks’ home arena, Fiserv Forum.
- California Festival July 2019: A gunman killed three people, including two children, and injured more than a dozen others during the Gilroy Garlic Festival in July 2019. The shooting shook residents of Gilroy, California, who were attending a popular food festival.
- 2018 Video Game Tournament: Nearly 1,000 people were attending an all-night arts festival in Trenton, New Jersey, when the shooting occurred in June. A fight between rival gang members quickly escalated into a shooting spree, leaving one person dead and 22 others injured. About two months later, another mass shooting occurred in Jacksonville, Florida. On August 26, three people, including the gunman, were killed and 11 others injured during the Madden 19 video game tournament in downtown Jacksonville.
A renewed call for stricter gun regulations
Police Chief Stacey Graves said more than 800 law enforcement officers were on standby in Kansas City providing security along the parade route.
But in a country full of guns, it is difficult for law enforcement to stop such attacks. Some leaders and activists say this means the country as a whole needs stricter gun laws.
“This shooting is yet another reminder that no parade, no church, no school, really, anywhere is safe from America’s gun violence crisis,” said Everytown for Everytown. Gun Safety President John Feinblatt spoke after the Kansas City shooting.
Lucas is working with mayors across the country to push for new laws to reduce gun violence, including universal background checks.
Angela Ferrell Zavala, executive director of Moms Demand Action, said the shooting should prompt politicians to tighten gun control.
The Super Bowl victory parade was supposed to be “pure joy,” but it turned into a tragedy for the community, she said.
Americans’ attitudes toward gun violence appear to be shifting somewhat. Six in 10 adults said gun violence was a very big problem in this country last year, a 9-point increase from 2022, according to the Pew Research Center. Almost 2 in 3 respondents said they expected the level of gun violence to increase over the next five years.
The Super Bowl, watched by more than one in three Americans this year, is “the most unifying event in America,” President Joe Biden said late Wednesday.
“Nothing unites us more. And the celebration of a Super Bowl victory is a moment that brings unparalleled joy to the winning team and its supporters. This joy turns to tragedy with today’s cut in Kansas City.” What is it? Deep in the American soul.”
He called for a ban on “assault weapons,” limits on high-capacity magazines and stronger background checks.
“Today’s events should move us, shock us, and embarrass us into action. What are we waiting for? What else do we need to see?” He said.
Parade worries were different than before.
When the San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl in 1982, their city had a disastrous parade, in part because officials had planned for 25,000 people to attend. , instead it was that half a million people went to the show.
The San Francisco Chronicle wrote that this was a “civic error” as police moved parts of the parade route to accommodate the crowds. That meant many people who had been lining up for hours weren’t able to watch the team pass by. “It was the worst parade I’ve ever seen,” 49ers fan John Sheridan told the paper.
Today, officials have to talk about other issues as well.
“We thank the courage and partnership of the law enforcement officers, first responders, and health care workers who ensured a quick and orderly evacuation and cared for the victims,” the congressman said. Sharice DavidD-Kan., who lives in neighboring Kansas City, Kansas, wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Today’s traumatic memories will remain in the hearts of our children, families, and community members for a long time. This does not reflect the spirit of Kansas City, and those seeking the opportunity to secure a brighter, safer future. I support this,” she posted.
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