This summer, from June 8 to September 3, America witnessed nine mass shootings. As stated by ABC News, “​The total number of deadly mass shootings in the United States in 2019 comes out to an average of one every 13 days.​”

      Two recent mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, took place within 24 hours of each other on August 3 and 4, renewing Congress’ interest in ‘Red Flag’ gun control laws. According to The New York Times, the ‘Red Flag’ laws “​are state laws that authorize courts to issue a special type of protection order, allowing the police to temporarily confiscate firearms from people who are deemed by a judge to be a danger to themselves or to others.” 

     Although these laws would take away guns from people by the police, some politicians worry that these laws would only be a band-aid for the problem of gun violence, and they have advocated for stricter gun control. President Trump has plans to hold a briefing meeting later in the week of September 16 concerning new legislation for gun control, “but the substance of it is a mystery,” as reported by CBS News.

      Several 2020 Democratic Presidential candidates have plans for increasing gun control if they are elected. As candidate Beto O’Rourke responded when asked about his gun confiscation policies at the third Democratic Debate in Houston, “​yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47. We’re not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore.” O’Rourke wants to keep America safe and finally put strict gun policies into action.

      On Monday, August 5, President Donald Trump addressed the nation regarding the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. He went on to say that he is “directing the Department of Justice to work in partnership with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as social media companies, to develop tools that can detect mass shooters before they strike.” Still, gun control legislation remains a topic of debate and uncertainty as Americans approach the 2020 election season and hope to see an end to recent violence.