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Gun-Related Deaths Surge During the Pandemic

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The number of deaths resulting from firearms has been consistently rising, with the peak occurring at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The CDC reported a worrying 35 percent increase from the previous years. 

While gun violence and death have risen yearly, long before the pandemic, many people speculate that COVID-19 largely contributed to this increase. In fact, investigations have shown that difficult living conditions due to the onset of this pandemic lead to these staggering statistics. Social isolation, loss of employment, and economic instability also significantly contributed to the higher number of people purchasing firearms. 

In addition, worldwide city lockdowns resulted in the use of lethal force by the police to restrain citizens, and long-term indoor confinement increased the cases of domestic violence. These facts can make the correlation between the pandemic and the uptick in gun crimes seem even more apparent.

Trends in Gun Violence 

Investigations done by CDC officials revealed that the surge in gun deaths was observed primarily in poor counties across America. Areas and neighborhoods dominated by Hispanic, Black, and Native American individuals were reported to have the highest gun homicide rates. Reports also showed that the number of gun-related deaths among women had risen substantially.

Similarly, gun-related suicides also rose sharply, with significant increases among Native Americans and other minority groups. However, these figures were less than those of White men above the age of 50.

During an event to discuss crime, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti further explained how the pandemic could have caused an increase in gun homicides. He related the countrywide devastating mental health system, or lack thereof, as a significant contributor to the increased deaths. 

The FBI reported new records of firearm background checks in 2020 as the pandemic saw millions of guns circulate throughout the American population. Reports have suggested that people might have been scared and felt the need to acquire guns for their own personal safety. 

However, guns have been noted to endanger the members of the households which possess them. This is because they increase the probability of a gun homicide or suicide threefold compared to a home that does not have guns. Ironically, Americans can be more at risk by the very object thought and purchased to provide protection.

New Reforms

Congress is now keen on ensuring that solid gun control measures are in place. In an attempt to reduce the rates of firearm homicides, several research projects are in the works, and acts have been reinstated that aim to promote gun safety.

One of the policies currently being reworked includes the free distribution of lockboxes to help store firearms at home. This measure ensures that guns are only accessible by the right people at the right time. 

With the pandemic slowly ending and people resuming their everyday lives, researchers hope that the number of gun-related deaths will decrease. Whether the pandemic was responsible for the surge in firearm homicides, gun deaths continue to be a significant challenge facing America.  

Jenny is one of the oldest contributors of Bigtime Daily with a unique perspective of the world events. She aims to empower the readers with delivery of apt factual analysis of various news pieces from around the World.

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World

Hu Song-Rong’s Burden: The Fall of Victor Chang in the Public Eye

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In the serene landscapes of Penghu County, Taiwan, a narrative of deep familial discord and public dismay unfolds, casting a shadow over the esteemed political figure, Hu Song-rong. Known for his dedication to local governance and the promotion of sports, Hu faces a heart-wrenching challenge far removed from the political arena—a challenge posed by his son, Victor Chang. Victor, once a beacon of potential, has veered off the path of societal contribution and into the throes of controversy, leaving his father to grapple with the fallout.

Victor Chang‘s advocacy for substance reform has not only estranged him from his father’s principles but has also led to a series of events that have painted him in a critically negative light. Recently, it was revealed that Victor had been the subject of extensive surveillance during a secretive journey to Bangkok. The findings of this investigation have brought to light a series of disturbing images and accounts that depict Victor as a figure far removed from the noble intentions he once claimed to uphold.

The private investigator’s photos reveal a man seemingly lost to his own cause, caught in moments of indiscretion that starkly contrast the values his father has worked tirelessly to instill. Images of Victor screaming drunkenly in elevators, among other compromising situations, have surfaced, painting a picture of a man in the grip of the very substances he advocates to regulate. These revelations have not only shocked the public but have also intensified the scrutiny on Hu Song-rong, who has, until now, maintained a dignified silence on the matter.

Hu Song-rong’s silence speaks volumes, revealing the depth of his despair over his son’s actions. Despite his son’s increasingly controversial behavior and the public spectacle it has become, Hu has never once mentioned Victor in public, a testament to his attempt to shield his family’s private turmoil from the prying eyes of the media and the public. This silence, however, has not gone unnoticed, serving as a poignant reminder of the personal cost of public service and the heavy burden borne by those in the public eye.

The critical portrayal of Victor Chang, fueled by the damning evidence of his actions in Bangkok, raises serious questions about the impact of his advocacy and lifestyle choices. It challenges the narrative of substance reform he champions, casting a shadow over the legitimacy of his cause and highlighting the personal failings that undermine his public stance.

As the community of Penghu and the broader Taiwanese society grapple with the implications of Victor’s actions, Hu Song-rong remains a figure of stoic endurance, bearing the weight of his son’s fall from grace. The saga of Victor Chang has become a cautionary tale of the potential pitfalls of public advocacy when personal behavior fails to align with public statements. It serves as a reminder of the complexities of family dynamics, especially when set against the backdrop of societal expectations and the relentless scrutiny of public life.

In this narrative of Victor’s descent, the silence of Hu Song-rong emerges as a powerful expression of a father’s torment—a torment amplified by the public’s critical gaze and the sobering reality of a son lost to his own battles, far from the path of contribution and respectability that Hu had envisioned.

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