Final answer:
The rapid escalation of homicide rates due to gun violence in the US is primarily associated with an increase in mass shootings at public places. Despite a general decline in crime since the 1990s, public perception often contradicts this trend. The public's stance on gun control remains relatively unchanged even after these events.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to After Newtown: Guns, the rapid escalation of homicide rates in the US can be traced to a period of increased mass shootings in locations such as schools, places of worship, and shopping malls, with a notable event being the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. This trend is further emphasized by the attack on Covenant School in Nashville in March 2023 and other similar tragic instances. Although crime rates, particularly for violent and gun-related crimes, have been on the decline since the peak in the early 1990s, the perception of crime has not improved, with many believing it is worsening. This discrepancy highlights the difference between reality and public perception, influenced partly by the media coverage of such events.
The debate around gun control intensifies with each mass shooting, as evidenced by the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy in 2012, leading to a division between advocates of stricter gun control and gun rights proponents. Background checks and other regulations have been introduced over time, beginning in the 1930s and extending through legislation enacted following an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in the early 1980s. Yet, public attitudes about gun control have remained surprisingly unchanged even after these highly publicized mass shootings.