On the occasion of National Day.. Biden denounces the “wave” of shootings

US President Joe Biden denounced Tuesday in a speech marking the National Day I witnessed a “wave” of shootings United States on the eve of the holiday.

Five people were killed in a shooting in Philadelphia on Monday night, and two children were injured, according to police and media. Another shooting at night in Fort Worth, Texas, killed three people and wounded eight, according to CNN.

Police at the scene of the shooting in Fort Worth, Texas

As of Tuesday afternoon, the United States had witnessed a number of shooting incidents on the National Day.

Five people were wounded in Lansing, Michigan, and four in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

Another shooting occurred in Akron, Ohio, to which police responded quickly early Tuesday. As a result, four people were injured.

“In the past few days, our nation has once again suffered a wave of tragic and senseless shootings in communities across the United States,” Biden said in a statement, referring to the incidents in Philadelphia, Fort Worth, and Lansing as well. Recent gun violence in Baltimore Wichita, Kansas and Chicago.

Police at the scene of the shooting in Philadelphia

“As our nation celebrates Independence Day, we pray for the day when our societies are free of gun violence,” he added.

During last year’s Fourth of July rally in Highland Park, Illinois, on the outskirts of Chicago, a gunman killed 10 people and wounded dozens.

This year, this region organized ceremonies to commemorate the victims instead of holding a traditional procession and celebrations, according to officials.

Referring to the first anniversary of that shooting, Biden said, “Within moments, this National Pride Day has become a scene of pain and tragedy.”

And in Philadelphia, police said I arrested the shooter Note that his motives are still unknown. “We have no idea why this happened,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. The shooter was wearing a bulletproof vest and was armed with a rifle and a handgun.

In Fort Worth, no arrests were reported as of Tuesday afternoon. “I am deeply saddened by the news of a mass shooting in Fort Worth last night,” Mayor Mattie Parker wrote in a tweet, adding, “My heart goes out to the victims.”

There have been at least 346 mass shootings in the United States this year, according to the Archives of Gun Violence, which defines a mass shooting as any shooting that results in the injury or death of four or more people.

More than 44,000 people were killed in shootings last year. Approximately 24,000 of them committed suicide.

“More needs to be done…to address the scourge of gun violence that is tearing apart our communities,” Biden said, praising gun control measures introduced in Illinois after the attack in Highland Park.

“I urge other states to follow Illinois’ example, and I continue to call on Republican representatives in Congress to come to the table to discuss sensible and meaningful reforms that the American people support,” he added.