Gun Violence in the U.S. and the Brown University Shooting

The United States continues to face a gun violence epidemic, infamously holding the title of having the highest rate of gun violence for a highly-developed country. In fact, more statistics from thetrace.org, an investigative journalistic website dedicated to unpacking gun violence, revealed that while 2025 marked a milestone for the lowest rates of gun violence on record, over 40,000 people were still shot— more than 110 people shot every day across the U.S. Although the percentage of shootings went down 14% from 2024, this high number is still worrisome, and many feel that it is not being responded to appropriately by our government. As a matter of fact, the Trump administration has made controversial decisions regarding gun violence control, including shutting down the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and issuing an executive order to completely gut critical gun crime and safety policies. 

In the words of Paxton Merz (12), the president of Loveland’s High School Democrats of America club, our country is constantly facing a “perpetual shadow of gun violence.” Most recently, a fatal shooting at Brown University, an Ivy League college located in Rhode Island, left our entire country shaken as yet another school shooting took young, innocent lives.

The Brown University shooting happened on December 13th, 2025, and left 9 students injured and 2 dead. In an effort to highlight the fallen victims as more than just a fatal statistic, it is crucial to remember their names and not just their tragic, untimely deaths. The two students who were killed were identified as Ella Cook, who was a sophomore from Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, who was a dual citizen from Uzbekistan in his first semester of college. Cook was described as a passionate member of her community, playing an active role as a part of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and vice president of the Brown University College Republicans. Umurzokov was described as a thoughtful person devoted to helping others and being disciplined; he planned on becoming a surgeon. The loss of these students not only impacted their community, but also others outside of their community as word of the tragedy spread.

The gunman was identified as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, who committed suicide following the shooting at Brown University, avoiding being brought to justice and held accountable for his horrific actions. In response to this tragic shooting, Donald Trump responded by saying “things can happen” and making no apparent effort to further protect our citizens from the constant dwelling impact and action of gun violence in our country.