On Feb. 13, 2023, a gunman killed three students and injured five more at Michigan State University, showing another dramatic example of gun violence. 

The families whose children got involved in the crossfire of the school shooting are realizing this is very similar to the shooting that had happened 11 years prior. The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School had 26 deaths of students, faculty, and teachers. Nine years later, at Oxford High School, another school shooting took place leaving four students dead. The students from MSU are now in college and realize the entire situation is repeating itself.

“A great friend to his Phi Delt brothers, the Greek community at Michigan State, and those he interacted with on campus,” Michigan State Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity President Brian Fraser said. Unfortunately, members of his family could not be reached. 

The injuries of five students caught in the fire are still remaining hospitalized in critical conditions a week after the shooting, officials said. 

As of the day of the shooting, The Gun Violence Archive had counted a total of 67 mass shootings in the United States so far this year. This nonprofit research organization defines a mass shooting as at least four people having been killed. 

The possible suspected Michigan State Shooter, who had died of a gunshot to himself, had an absolute connection with the university, the Michigan Police Department said, and was carrying a note of threatening a school located in New Jersey. 

The officials had identified him as Anthony McRae, a 43-year-old who had lived in nearby Lansing, Michigan. His body was found off the campus. The university’s police chief described him as “an alert citizen” only 17 minutes after the police officials released photos to the public of the suspect.

Mr. McRae’s 67-year-old father, Michael, said that his son’s behavior suddenly changed after his mother passed away in 2020. Mr. McRae, his father had said, became increasingly isolated and would rarely leave his room. 

The police had seized several guns from McRae, his father said, at some point in June 2019, he was charged with carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. McRae pleaded but, unfortunately, he served 18 months in prohibition. But last summer, neighbors close by neighbors to the father’s house in Lansing, were shocked when his son fired a gun in the backyard, said a neighbor.

Democratic lawmakers in Michigan, who are in the current majority in the state legislature, promised on Feb. 14 to introduce the measures of gun control. Winnie Brinks, the Senate Majority Leader, said the Senate would take action soon based on “common sense” legislation, though the current details on the requests were not immediately clear.

“The Michigan mass shooting was a tragic event that ended with eight students shot and three dead,” Special Education teacher Andre Shaw said. “In addition, the shooter displayed various mental health issues and had previous run-ins with police. That said, we need to ask ourselves how we measure that someone can appropriately handle a firearm. In America, we lead the world in mass shootings; therefore, we need to have sustainable gun control laws that are more rigorous and screen applicants to ensure safety.”

The Michigan shooting was a horrific event that left many shocked all over the country. The shooter had certain mental health problems that lead up to this turn of events. We need to ask ourselves why we enable the violence of guns not only in America but all over the world.