A series of deadly mass shootings , especially the Aurora movie theater massacre and the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre , sparked a heated debate over gun control and the causes of these events . After the killings of many African-Americans such as Eric Garner , Michael Brown , and Philando Castile by policemen resulted in no prosecution , the Black Lives Matter movement sparked discussions , protests , and riots against racial profiling , police brutality , and overall racism between white and black Americans . The 2016 Orlando shooting at a gay nightclub renewed discussions of violence and discrimination against the LGBT community as well as Islamic terrorism
Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
History of the United States (2008–present)