14,670 killed in gun-related violence in US since start of 2023: Report

More than 14,600 people in the United States, including hundreds of children and teenagers, have been killed in gun-related violence since the beginning of the year, according to the figures provided by a non-profit research group.

The latest report by Gun Violence Archive showed on Sunday that a total of 14,670 people has so far lost their lives to gun violence, among them 8,382 people who committed suicide using firearms and 6,288 others who died in homicides, murders, accidental discharges, and defensive gun use.

The report said 93 children, aged up to 11 years old, lost their lives in those incidents in addition to 522 teens, aged between 12 and 17.

The tracker also said there have been 199 mass shootings since the start of 2023, and that the number of mass murders stands at 22, indicating a significant rise in comparison with their corresponding period over the past years.

The number of killings in officer-involved incidents was 487 and 515 people lost their lives in unintentional shootings.

The report was published a day after at least eight people were killed and seven others, including children, injured by a lone gunman at a shopping mall near the city of Dallas in the US state of Texas.

The gunman in the Saturday shooting, whom authorities say acted alone, was killed by a police officer after he began firing outside of the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen.

According to local officials, the victims — ranging from 5 to 61 years old — with gunshot wounds were transported to area hospitals.

Last month, US President Joe Biden called on Congress to enact federal legislation addressing the country’s gun crisis and reimpose a ban on assault weapons, which existed from 1994 to 2004.

Biden’s call for the ban has faced opposition from Republicans who are staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms.