Despite Strict Gun Laws, California Leads Nation in Mass Shootings

New figures from the FBI reveal that California, despite having some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, led the country in active shooter incidents in 2023. AWR Hawking’s over at Breitbart News called out the obvious fact after the FBI documented 48 active shooter incidents across 26 states last year, with California accounting for eight of these incidents. That number was the highest for any state.

The FBI defines an active shooter as “one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.” The report highlights that open spaces, including roads, neighborhoods, parks, and outdoor venues, were the most common locations for these shootings, Fox News and ABC News reported.

California’s eight active shooter incidents in 2023 occurred in various settings, including open spaces, businesses, and educational centers. This marks a continuation of a troubling trend, as the state also led the nation in 2021 with six such incidents.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has frequently touted the success of his state’s gun control measures while criticizing the more lenient laws of other states. In a tweet on May 13, 2023, Newsom remarked, “It HAS to be the humidity. Why else would California’s gun violence rate be 57% lower than Florida’s?” However, FBI data shows that Florida had only two active shooter incidents in 2023, a quarter of California’s total.

Newsom’s comments highlight a paradox in California’s approach to gun control. While the state has implemented some of the nation’s toughest gun laws, it continues to experience a high number of mass shootings. Something clearly isn’t working. Will Newsom and his fellow anti-gun politicians ever figure it out?