How Countries Around The World Have Dealt With Mass Shootings

It feels like an almost weekly occurrence in the US: another mass shooting, news reports about how and why the perpetrator did it, interviews with survivors, investigations into failed safety measures, and Congressional debates that ultimately go nowhere – then the cycle begins again. But if we look at the statistics, it isn’t just a feeling. According to the Gun Violence Archive, 278 mass shootings have taken place in 2022. That averages to about 11 shootings per week.

Among First World countries, this feels like a uniquely American problem – and to some extent it is. According to Bloomberg, the number of shootings in the US far exceeds that of any other country with a developed economy. But that doesn’t mean incidents like these are unheard of outside American borders. Although their causes – and ultimately the responses that followed – deviate from country to country, this brand of violence is a fear well understood around the world. 

What did other nations do in response to mass shootings? The question doesn’t have a simple answer. No two nations are alike. They may share similarities, but each is politically, culturally, and geographically unique. Some countries tightened gun control laws and banned certain types of firearms, while others armed police officers with more powerful weaponry. That’s because some countries blamed private access to military-grade weaponry, while others blamed the media, or bigotry, or law enforcement oversights. 

Looking at other nations and their responses to mass shootings may not provide the end-all solution, but it could provide insights for how the US could deal with its problem.