Katherine Firkin: US correspondent on the mass shootings blemishing Fourth of July holiday weekend - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Over the last decade, the Fourth of July weekend has seen more mass shootings than any other time of the year.

A gunman wearing a bulletproof vest killed 5 and wounded 2 more in Philadelphia, 3 were shot and 8 were injured in Fort Worth, Texas and 30 were harmed at a Baltimore block party over the holiday.

US correspondent Katherine Firkin says July 4th is one of the riskiest days in the US, as mass shooters take advantage of the gatherings.

"There are mass gatherings everywhere. Every city in every state has these celebrations, people take their long holiday weekends very seriously here. I think if you are intent on committing violence, it's the perfect opportunity." 

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