Over the past decade, gun violence has risen in Champaign-Urbana with a dramatic surge in incidents beginning around 2019-2020 and peaking in 2021. While gun violence has already been an issue in the 2010s, it is seen by the City of Champaign website that incidents have nearly tripled between 2015 and 2021. Therefore, gun violence needs to stop.
Anyone can be affected by gun violence, but it often impacts people of color, men, and boys in underprivileged groups. Domestic violence involving firearms also puts women at risk of death or life-changing injuries.
Champaign has been suffering from shootings of all kinds and people are distressed. A sophomore at Central High School named Brie Kilmek commented, “It’s sad to know that people don’t care anymore about gun violence because of how much it happens.” I totally agree with what Brie said because I feel like in Champaign and in general, gun violence is very normalized now. If us people cared more, we could prevent some shootings from happening.
People that have grown up here, including me, know that this is a regular occurrence for shootings to take place, to the point where we aren’t surprised that one has occurred. Kilmek says, “In my opinion, we should care more about people, and we could possibly prevent shootings from happening.”
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, around 6:00 p.m, Champaign Police got a report of a fight at the Market Place Shopping mall, and it escalated to a shooting. According to the City of Champaign website, “During the altercation, at least one firearm was discharged, striking a 16-year-old victim.” Sadly, the 16-year-old didn’t make it. This is why we should stop gun violence. Gun violence can rob people’s lives like life-changing injuries, death, or even prison.
People around Champaign and people that I know have experienced shootings. “I’ve experienced gun violence, and it was very scary. After being at the mall while the shooting occurred, I have been more cautious,” said Kilmek. It’s disappointing that we are hypervigilant of our surroundings now rather than being at peace.
Another incident that occurred last year on a Tuesday was a shootout at Oakwood Trace Apartments that left one person with life-threatening injuries. Once Champaign Police arrived on scene, there was one victim still there, and they got emergency aid until they could bring them to a nearby hospital for additional treatment.
Gun violence hadn’t always been a huge issue in Champaign until the pandemic started. “Before the pandemic, I never really heard much about shooting, and it wasn’t as common,” says Kilmek.
I grew up near Market Place Mall, and when I was younger, I wasn’t aware of the reality of gun violence. But now that I’m older, I’m aware of this issue. It doesn’t make me feel safe to live near a place where shootings happen. Even if you don’t care about it, you should because anything could happen, even to the ones you love.
Gun violence is a major issue in Champaign-Urbana, but it shouldn’t be. If someone has an issue with another person, it shouldn’t even escalate to a fight because guns could be involved. Shootings don’t solve anything; they could lead to life-changing things like injuries, death, or even prison. It’s very normalized in today’s generation to the point where people aren’t surprised if a shooting has happened.
