Blame Games
The increasing amount of violence has ignited a new push by gun control advocates to revisit gun control legislation. Some say the Republican-led Congress needs to stop blocking such reforms. Others blame it on Democrats.
US lawmakers haven't approved a major new gun law since 1994, and allowed a ban on certain semiautomatic rifles known as assault weapons expire back in 2004.
Faced with intense NRA lobbying, and fearful of a backlash from gun-owning voters, Congress has stopped trying to pass new laws. Gun violence has taken too many lives and cost US billions.