New gun safety measures took effect across several U.S. states on January 1, following a year in which the country experienced 503 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
California, Illinois, Colorado, and Washington, among other states, introduced stricter regulations aimed at curbing gun violence.
In California, concealed firearms are now banned in 26 areas, including parks, churches, and zoos. Illinois prohibited certain semiautomatic weapons, like AK-47s and AR-15s…