What's happening?

Ralph Yarl rang the wrong doorbell. Kaylin Gillis drove up the wrong driveway. A cheerleader accidentally got into the wrong car. And a six-year-old girl's ball rolled into a neighbour's garden.

All four were shot at. Kaylin Gillis, aged 20, died. Ralph Yarl, aged 16, somehow survived.

Mass shootings in the USAThe United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million. make headline news all around the world. But people in America are shot everyday. Why?

The USA is the only country with more guns than people. Gun owners say lawsRules that everyone must follow. in the America allow them to defend themselves from danger with guns.

But these four young people were not a danger - they were lost. So why were they shot?

Find out more

Many think America has become a country ruled by fear. In the 1950s, half of all Americans thought people were trustworthySomeone or something you can trust. . Now, less than a third think so.

Some expertsSomeone who knows a lot about a particular subject. think the media is to blame. News reports share stories of danger 24 hours a day. Others say politiciansSomeone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country. are making the problem worse. In 2016, Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025. told his supporters: "You're not going to be scared anymore. They're going to be scared. He won a vote and became presidentIn some countries, the leader is called the president..

But some Americans are hopeful that things will change. Today, many Americans fear being shot - and many are calling for action.

Yes! It is a cycle of fear and violence. Few Americans trust each other - and they know people are likely to have guns. This leads to more violence, more fear and even less trust.

No! Fear is only one part of the story. Many Americans show bravery too. They are calling for change to make their country safer.