Mass shootings in Philadelphia and Chattanooga, Tennessee, left at least six people dead, with over 25 others wounded, Police officials noted on Sunday, June 5, 2022.

The mass shooting is the latest case of gun violence after recent massacres in Texas, New York and Oklahoma. Multiple shooters opened fire in Philadelphia’s busy South Street, which is an area with many bars and restaurants, which left two men and a woman killed, officials revealed.

A surveillance video from the Philadelphia shooting showed people on a crowded street running in panic during the closing moments of the 22-second clip, which is presumably after gunshots were fired, although the clip had no audio. Philadelphia Police Inspector, D F Pace, disclosed that “There were hundreds of individuals just enjoying South Street, as they do every single weekend when this shooting broke out”.

In a separate incident, three people were dead and 14 suffered gunshot wounds after a shooting near a bar in Chattanooga, authorities said, adding that two people died from gunshot wounds and one person died from injuries after being struck by a vehicle while fleeing the scene. According to Tennessee officials, three victims were wounded as they attempted to flee and were struck by vehicles.

Recent Happenings in the US

The incidents followed recent shootings that killed 10 people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York; 21 victims at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas; and four people at a medical building in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a result, gun safety advocates are pushing the US government to take stronger measures to curb gun violence.

Reports revealed that at least, 240 mass shootings have occurred in the US so far this year (2022), according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group, which defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter.

Philadelphia Police officers said the whereabouts of the shooters are not immediately known. However, two handguns were recovered at the scene, including one with an extended magazine. In addition, there are no immediate arrests. Philadelphia Mayor, Jim Kenney, described the shooting as “horrendous, despicable and senseless.” The Philadelphia Inquirer (a news publication) reported that the deceased were aged 22, 27 and 34 while the ages of the people wounded ranged from 17 to 69.

There were multiple shooters in Chattanooga too, but Chattanooga Police Chief, Celeste Murphy, said Police believe it was an isolated incident and authorities did not think there was an ongoing public safety threat. As it stands, further details on that shooting are not immediately available.

US President, Joe Biden on Thursday, June 2, 2022, called on Congress to ban assault weapons, expand background checks and implement other gun control measures to address the string of mass shootings. Chris Murphy, the lead Democratic US Senator working on bipartisan gun safety talks, said on Sunday, June 5, 2022, that he thinks a package including investments in mental health, school safety and some changes to gun laws can pass Congress.

A broad majority of American voters, both Republicans and Democrats, favour stronger gun control laws, but Republicans in Congress and some moderate Democrats have blocked such legislation for years.