Calay News
On Saturday, a 33-year-old gunman named Mauricio Garcia killed at least eight people and wounded seven others at a mall in Allen, a northern suburb of Dallas. President Joe Biden called for stricter gun laws and renewed calls for Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers.
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed Garcia’s identity, but no information was released about the victims or a possible motive. An AR-15 rifle and tactical gear were found with Garcia, who was killed by police.
The shooting was one of at least 199 mass shootings in the United States so far in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, called for addressing mental health problems as a way to prevent gun violence. Democrats stressed the need for stronger gun safety legislation. On Sunday evening, community members held a vigil for the victims at Cottonwood Creek Church.
The shooting reignited the debate over gun control in the United States, where the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms. Social media sites have worked to take down links to graphic images of the shooting, including a video circulating on Twitter showing several dead bodies, including that of a young child.
