New gun safety laws taking effect in several states across the US on January 1, 2024, aim to address the alarming surge in mass shootings. California, Illinois, and Colorado are among the states implementing ‘red flag’ laws – extreme risk protection orders – in response to the 655 mass shootings recorded in the country in 2023.
In California, a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom prohibits concealed carry in 26 public places, including parks, churches, and banks. This law prevailed after a federal court suspended an injunction which deemed it a violation of citizens’ second amendment rights.
In Illinois, a law will now ban the sale of many types of semi-automatic assault weapons, a direct response to a deadly mass shooting in 2022. These laws have faced legal challenges from pro-gun groups, including a federal lawsuit against Colorado governor Jared Polis, who signed a law banning ‘ghost guns’ – firearms made at home without serial numbers.
These initiatives come after the US endured more than 18,800 gun deaths, 36,200 gun injuries, and over 24,100 suicides in 2023 alone. The mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas in 2017 remains one of the deadliest in history, with 60 killed and over 850 injured.
Despite these staggering statistics and continued efforts by advocates and lawmakers, large-scale reforms in the US remain elusive. Gun violence prevention remains a contentious and complex issue in the country, with the implementation of new gun safety laws serving as a small step towards addressing the ongoing crisis.