Guns and Grief: A Tale of Two Nations

What Americans can learn from Italians

Granddaugher climbing Spanish Steps. Rome, Italy. Photo by Author

Dear Americans,

I don’t understand. It seems that you’ve lost your way.
As a dual US-Italian citizen, I watch, knowing what it’s like to be in a country like Italy that doesn’t live in constant fear of mass shootings.

In 2024 alone, there have already been over 497 mass shootings in the United States, according to the . A mass shooting is defined as an incident in which four or more people are injured or killed. Tragically, school shootings continue to dominate headlines, terrorizing children, parents, and educators alike.

Just recently, on December 16, 2024, there was another in Madison, Wisconsin, leaving two people dead and unable to ever hug their loved ones again. Two more lives stolen. Two families shattered. A 15-year-old shooter called in by a second grader — unfathomable.

The human toll is staggering. Now, we have two more.

In Italy, with a population of over 60 million, school shootings are virtually nonexistent due to strict gun control laws and cultural attitudes toward firearms. According to data from the and reports from Italian authorities, Italy’s gun homicide rate remains among the lowest in the…