As more Americans get vaccinated for COVID-19 and large groups gather in public again, some are warning that large-scale mass shootings are inevitable.

Even though large-scale mass shootings may have decreased while people were at home because of the pandemic, 2020 was still one of the most violent years on record, according to TIME Magazine. Homicides in many major cities increased, as well as interpersonal violence. 

More than 19,000 people died in shootings and gun-related incidents, TIME reports.

The pandemic also saw an increase in gun sales, with about 22.8 million firearms sold last year, according to the Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting, an independent research firm.

Adjunct Professor of Politics at George Washington University Gary Nordlinger says mass shootings are a concern for the nation but statistically, a person has low chances of being in a large-scale mass shooting. And although last year saw a rise in gun purchases, that doesn't directly correlate to a rise in crime. 

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