The New York Times editorial board claims at least 700 mass shootings occurred over the least two years and 96 people are killed by firearms every day. The column was written to correspond with the second anniversary of the June 12, 2016, shooting at the gun-free Orlando Pulse nightclub. The gunman in that attack had a statewide firearms license enabling him to serve as an armed security guard and he passed a background check for the handgun and rifle he carried on the night of his attack.