Shootings in the U.S.

Washington, Aug 7 (RHC) A shooting in Edinburg (Texas), left 7 wounded today, less than 24 hours after two other similar incidents in the capital of the United States and in Lafayette (Louisiana), which caused three and one death, respectively.

In Texas (south), the authorities are investigating the shooting that occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning at the El Antro nightclub.

Meanwhile, in Washington DC, the event caused a strong police mobilization on Saturday night and part of the early hours of Sunday morning in the southeastern areas of the city.

The Metropolitan Police reported that the fatalities are two men and a woman, while two other people were injured, one of them seriously.

"This gun violence has to stop. It's incredibly frustrating," said Pamela Smith, acting chief of the Washington police.

The official said that "this is not a war zone" and residents need to feel safe.

Last July 4, during the Independence Day celebrations, President Joe Biden confessed that he prays to see the moment when "our communities are free of gun violence".

"There is nothing we can say to fill the holes in (...) hearts or to heal those who suffered irreparable harm," he lamented.

According to the Armed Violence Archive, the United States has already recorded 427 mass shootings since the beginning of 2023, that is, more shootings than days of the year.

Behind the apparent normality seen in cities like the U.S. capital, there is a generalized atmosphere that no one is safe here.

Shootings occur at any time and place, because it is, as President Biden admitted, the gun epidemic.

Alongside the calls for gun control, there is strong opposition from the gun lobby in Congress, which manages to derail any initiative. The United States has the sad record of having more lethal devices in possession of civilians than inhabitants.