Fact check: Have there been 24 school shootings in the USA this year? how many US Capitol vigils were there related to the shootings.

1. Summary of the results

The claim of 24 school shootings in the USA this year is contradicted by various sources, including CNN, which reports 47 school shootings, with 24 on college campuses and 23 on K-12 school grounds ^[1]. Education Week analysis reports a lower number, with 9 school shootings resulting in injuries or deaths this year ^[2]. NPR discusses recent high-profile shootings and gun violence trends but does not provide a specific number of school shootings this year ^[3]. Regarding US Capitol vigils, there is limited information available, but Newtown Action Alliance Foundation mentions a 12th Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence, indicating that gun violence is an ongoing issue ^[4]. Other sources, such as WSAW and WAGA, report on specific school shooting vigils, but not US Capitol vigils ^{[5] [6]}. NPR and CPR provide additional context on the school shooting industry and measures to prevent school violence, but do not mention US Capitol vigils ^{[7] [8]}. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes' office discusses legislation to increase school-based violence prevention and intervention programs, but does not provide information on the number of school shootings or US Capitol vigils ^[9].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key missing context is the definition of a school shooting, as different sources may have varying criteria for what constitutes a school shooting ^{[1] [2]}. Additionally, the sources do not provide a comprehensive list of US Capitol vigils related to school shootings, making it difficult to determine the exact number ^{[4] [5] [6]}. Alternative viewpoints, such as the root causes of gun violence and the effectiveness of current prevention measures, are also not fully explored in the provided analyses ^{[7] [8]}. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes' office provides some insight into legislative efforts to address school violence, but more information on the impact and implementation of such measures is needed ^[9]. The CNN and Education Week analyses highlight the importance of accurate data and reporting on school shootings, which is crucial for informing policy and prevention efforts ^{[1] [2]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading, as it claims 24 school shootings, which is contradicted by CNN and Education Week analyses ^{[1] [2]}. This discrepancy may be due to differences in data collection or definitions of school shootings. The lack of information on US Capitol vigils may also contribute to the perception that there is a lack of response or attention to the issue of school shootings. The sources that report on specific vigils, such as WSAW and WAGA, may be seen as biased towards highlighting individual incidents rather than providing a comprehensive overview of the issue ^{[5] [6]}. NPR and CPR provide more nuanced discussions of gun violence and school shooting prevention, but may be seen as biased towards emphasizing the need for legislative action or specific prevention measures ^{[7] [8]}. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes' office may be seen as biased towards promoting legislative solutions, but provides some valuable context on the importance of addressing school violence ^[9].