Lauren Moye, FISM News
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A shooting at a mall over the weekend killed three and wounded several more. The fact that it happened in Denmark, a nation known for restrictive gun laws, has caused conservatives in the U.S. to renew objections during a heated national debate on how to prevent mass shootings.
A 22-year-old male carried a rifle and ammunition into a Copenhagen, Denmark shopping center yesterday afternoon. Before authorities apprehended him at 5:48 pm local time, the gunman killed two 17-year-olds and a 47-year-old. He wounded an additional seven civilians, four with serious injuries.
It ended an otherwise joyful week after the country hosted three stages of the Tour de France cycling race.
“Denmark was hit by a cruel attack on Sunday night. Several were killed. Even more wounded. Innocent families shopping or eating out. Children, adolescents, and adults,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen lamented in a public statement released last night.
Earlier today, Chief Police Inspector Soren Thomassen told reporters that all evidence pointed to the gunman as being alone in this act of violence. He said it was not viewed as “an act of terror” based on evidence.
“There has been some sort of deliberation and preparation (by the suspect) up to this terrible event,” Thomassen added.
However, he told reporters, “Our current assessment is that these are random victims.”
Foot traffic in the mall was high at the time of the attack due to a Harry Styles concert that was to be held nearby later in the day. The shooting prompted organizers to cancel that concert. The singer said he was “heartbroken” by the news.
I’m heartbroken along with the people of Copenhagen. I adore this city. The people are so warm and full of love.
I’m devastated for the victims, their families, and everyone hurting.
I’m sorry we couldn’t be together. Please look after each other. H
— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) July 3, 2022
Yesterday, the gunman was ordered to be held in a closed psychiatric ward for now.
Gun control laws in Denmark are some of the most extreme in all of Europe. Only licensed gun owners can lawfully acquire a firearm. A license application must be able to present a “genuine reason” to possess a firearm, be over the age of 18, and pass a background check. Fully automatic weapons are banned.
The 22-year-old did not possess a license. This has prompted Republican lawmakers and candidates to renew objections to stricter gun laws in the U.S. at a time when several high-profile mass shootings have renewed the gun control debate.
“It’s time to admit that gun laws DO NOT stop mass shootings,” Representative Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) tweeted on Sunday.
Restricting the freedom of law-abiding Americans will never, ever make us safer.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) July 5, 2022
Willie J. Montague, a Frederick Douglas Republican candidate for Florida’s tenth district, said, “Also praying the Left wakes up and realizes that mass shootings are not prevented by gun laws. Denmark makes it nearly impossible to get a gun, yet a mass shooting just happened there.”
Last month, mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas prompted the first bipartisanship gun reform bill in three decades. President Joe Biden signed this legislation into law last month. However, the bill represents a compromise between the GOP and liberals and has angered members of both parties.