Make Money with Kenneth Keith

gun violence statistics

Gun Violence Statistics: Understanding the Numbers

—

by

Kenneth Keith
in
Please Share This Blog!

In 2021, more Americans died from gun injuries than ever before. This marks a sad trend, with a rise in gun murders and suicides. Yet, the overall gun death rate is still lower than in past decades.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 48,830 gun-related deaths in the U.S. in 2021. These deaths include gun murders, suicides, accidents, and others. This shows how critical it is to understand gun violence in America.

Key Takeaways

  • More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2021 than any other year on record.
  • Gun-related deaths in the U.S. included 54% suicides and 43% murders in 2021.
  • Firearms were involved in 81% of U.S. murders and 55% of suicides in 2021.
  • Gun murders increased by 45% and gun suicides rose by 10% between 2019 and 2021.
  • The U.S. gun death rate reached a 30-year high of 14.6 per 100,000 people in 2021.

Staggering Rise in Gun Deaths in Recent Years

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new data. It shows gun-related deaths in the U.S. have hit a high point. In 2021, a shocking 48,830 people died from gun injuries, including both gun murders and gun suicides.

Record-Breaking Figures in 2021

There was a 23% increase in gun deaths since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic started. Gun homicides went up by 45% from 2019 to 2021. Gun suicides also rose by 10% during this time.

Pandemic Fueled Spike in Gun Murders and Suicides

Experts say the rise in gun deaths is due to the pandemic’s social and economic effects. The CDC’s data shows gun violence has a huge impact on American communities. The number of lives lost to guns has hit an all-time high.

“The pandemic has had a profound impact on gun-related deaths in the United States, exacerbating an already alarming trend of rising gun violence and suicides,” said Dr. Emily Wang, a public health researcher at the CDC.

We need to come together to tackle this public health crisis. Policymakers, law enforcement, and community leaders must work together. They need to find the causes of gun violence and stop this trend.

Gun Suicides: The Heartbreaking Majority

Gun suicides often get less attention than murders but make up most U.S. gun deaths. In 2021, 54% of gun deaths were from suicide (26), while 43% were from murder (20,958), the CDC found. The rate of gun suicides has reached a high, with 7.5 per 100,000 people in 2021, similar to 1977.

Gun suicides are the leading cause of gun deaths in America. The rate of gun suicides went up 1.6% in 2022, hitting a record high. For the first time, Black teens had a higher gun suicide rate than white teens in 2022. Suicide makes up 58% of gun deaths in the U.S., showing we need better mental health support and stricter gun laws.

Statistic Value
Suicide rate among Black teens surpassing white teens 2022
Percentage of gun-related deaths that are suicides 58%
Percentage of gun-related deaths that are homicides 39%
Percentage of gun-related deaths that are unintentional 1.2%
Percentage of gun-related deaths that are police shootings 1.3%

The CDC and other sources show a grim picture of gun suicides in the U.S. We need strategies that help with mental health and responsible gun laws to fight this crisis.

“Suicide accounts for 58% of gun-related deaths in the United States.”

Firearms: Leading Cause of Homicides in America

Recent data shows a disturbing fact – firearms are now the top cause of homicides in the U.S. In 2021, a huge 20,958 out of 26,031 murders involved a gun. This is the highest rate since 1968, the earliest year we have records.

Handguns Involved in Most Gun Murders

In 2020, the FBI found that handguns were in 59% of the 13,620 U.S. gun murders and non-negligent manslaughters. Rifles were in only 3% of these cases, and shotguns in just 1%.

Firearm Type Percentage of Gun Murders
Handguns 59%
Rifles 3%
Shotguns 1%

These numbers highlight how much handguns dominate in firearm homicides, gun murders, and handgun homicides in the U.S. They are based on the latest FBI data.

gun violence statistics: A Nationwide Challenge

Stark Variations Across States

In 2021, the US saw big differences in gun deaths across states. States like Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama, and Wyoming had the highest rates. These rates include murders, suicides, and other gun-related deaths. On the other end, states like Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island had the lowest rates.

Looking at gun murder and suicide rates shows more differences. The District of Columbia, Mississippi, and Louisiana had the highest gun murder rates. Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska had the highest gun suicide rates. These state-level gun deaths highlight the need for local solutions to the gun violence epidemic.

State Total Gun Deaths per 100,000 (2021) Gun Murder Rate Gun Suicide Rate
Mississippi 33.9 High Average
Louisiana 29.1 High Average
New Mexico 27.8 Average High
Alabama 26.4 High Average
Wyoming 26.1 Average High
Massachusetts 3.4 Low Low
Hawaii 4.8 Low Low
New Jersey 5.2 Low Low
New York 5.4 Low Low
Rhode Island 5.6 Low Low

This table shows the big differences in gun deaths across the US. It points out the need for solutions that fit each state’s unique situation.

“The vast geographic variations in gun violence statistics across the United States reflect the complex and multi-faceted nature of this public health crisis. Addressing these state-level gun deaths will require a nuanced, evidence-based approach that takes into account the unique challenges and circumstances of each region.”

Mass Shootings: Defining and Tracking the Tragedy

Tracking mass shootings in the U.S. is hard because there’s no clear definition. The FBI looks at “active shooter incidents.” It means one or more people trying to kill others in a crowded place. In 2021, 103 people died in these incidents, not counting the shooters.

The Gun Violence Archive has its own way of counting. It says a mass shooting is when four or more people get shot, alive or dead. In 2021, 706 people died in these events, not counting the shooters. This shows how hard it is to agree on what a mass shooting is.

Definition Number of Mass Shootings (2021) Number of Deaths (2021)
FBI Active Shooter Incidents Not Provided 103
Gun Violence Archive (4+ Shot) Not Provided 706

There’s no one way to define mass shootings, and different groups count them differently. But, both the FBI and the Gun Violence Archive show that mass shootings are a big problem in America.

Trying to understand and track mass shootings is complex. We need a better way to collect and analyze data. This would help us fight gun violence better.

Children and Teens: Alarming Increase in Gun Deaths

Gun violence is hitting our young people hard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a 50% jump in gun deaths among kids and teens from 2019 to 2021.

In 2021, 2,590 young people lost their lives to guns, up from 1,732 in 2019. This means a gun death rate of 3.5 per 100,000 kids and teens, a 46% jump from the 2.4 per 100,000 in 2019.

School Shootings: A Devastating Reality

Gun deaths among young Americans have also seen a rise in school shootings. These events have become all too common. The FBI recorded 61 active shooter incidents in 2021, up from just 3 in 2000.

These events have deeply affected communities. We need to tackle the causes of gun violence and protect our young people.

“Firearms now kill more children and adolescents than any other cause, surpassing motor vehicle crashes.”

The increase in gun deaths among our youth is a wake-up call. We must work together to keep our children and teens safe from gun violence.

gun deaths among children and teens

America’s Gun Death Rate: Higher Than Peers

The United States is a standout in gun violence among its peers. The IHME data shows the U.S. had a gun death rate of 10.6 per 100,000 people in 2016. This is much higher than in other developed countries.

Other countries like Canada had a much lower rate of 2.1 per 100,000. Australia, France, Germany, and Spain all had rates under 3 per 100,000. Yet, the U.S. rate was higher than in many Latin American countries, such as El Salvador, Venezuela, and Guatemala.

The difference in gun violence between the U.S. and other countries is striking. The U.S. is responsible for 97% of child and teen firearm deaths in comparison to other OECD countries with similar wealth. In the U.S., firearms cause 20% of all deaths in children and teens. This is much higher than in other wealthy nations, where it’s less than 2%.

The U.S. leads in child and teen deaths from firearms due to suicide, assault, and accidents. In 2021, the U.S. had a child and teen firearm assault rate of 3.9 per 100,000. The suicide rate was 3.8 per 100,000. This highlights the need to tackle gun violence in the U.S. urgently.

Domestic Violence: Lethal Interactions with Firearms

Domestic violence is a huge problem that mainly affects women. When guns are involved, it makes things even worse. Studies show that having guns at home raises the risk of suicide and murder for everyone living there.

Risks of Firearm Access in Abusive Relationships

Studies reveal that having a gun in a domestic violence situation can increase the risk of murder by 500%. Sadly, most intimate partner murders in the U.S. happen with a gun. And 75% of these victims are women.

These facts show how dangerous it is to have guns in abusive relationships. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey found that 24% of women faced serious violence from their partners. This is compared to 11% of men.

  • Nearly 1 million women in the U.S. have had a gun used against them by an intimate partner.
  • Women in the U.S. are 28 times more likely to die from a gun than women in other countries.
  • Two in five female victims of gun homicide were killed by a current or past partner.

Experts say it’s crucial to limit gun access for those with a history of domestic violence or under restraining orders. By doing this, we can see a 21% drop in intimate partner murder rates. This shows how important it is to act to save lives.

“Firearm-related violence is a significant risk factor in intimate partner homicides.”

– Epidemiologic Review

Unintentional Shootings: A Preventable Tragedy

Even though they make up a small part of gun deaths, unintentional shootings are a big issue, especially when kids get hurt. Studies show that laws that make gun owners keep their guns locked and empty can cut down on accidental gun deaths and unintentional firearm injuries in kids.

Experts say that these child access prevention laws lead to fewer accidental deaths and suicides in young people. This shows how key it is for gun owners to be responsible and keep their guns safe to stop these sad events.

Child Access Prevention Laws

These laws aim to stop unintentional firearm injuries and deaths in young kids. They make gun owners keep their guns locked and empty to keep kids from getting to them easily.

  • Studies show that these laws can cut down on accidental gun deaths in kids by up to 23%.
  • Keeping guns safe and following these laws can greatly lower the chance of accidental gun deaths and injuries.
  • Telling gun owners how to store their guns safely is key to stopping these accidents and saving lives.
Key Findings Value
Approximate number of annual unintentional firearm deaths in the U.S. 500
Percentage of fatal unintentional firearm injuries that were self-inflicted among children 37.8%
Percentage of unintentional firearm injury deaths where the firearm was stored loaded and unlocked 73.8%

“Child access prevention laws, which require gun owners to store firearms locked and unloaded, can help reduce unintentional firearm injuries and deaths among children.”

Police Shootings: Examining the Data

Police shootings in the U.S. show a complex and worrying trend. From 2015 to 2020, an average of 1,769 people got hurt each year. Sadly, 55% of these, or 979 people, died. Most victims, 84%, had a gun or another weapon when shot.

Some things make police shootings more likely. Calls for emergencies led to 46% more fatal shootings. Wellness checks were 74% more likely to be deadly than other situations.

Impact of Concealed Carry Laws

Studies link concealed carry weapons permitting laws to more police shootings. Having more people with concealed firearms might lead to more conflicts with law enforcement. But, we need more research to understand this link better.

There are also big racial differences in these shootings. Black people made up 29% of those hurt but not killed. A 2015 study found 26% of fatal victims were Black. Yet, Black people were 35% less likely to die from a police shooting than white people in nonfatal incidents.

Trying to make things better is working. In a study of 91 big police departments, new rules on force led to fewer deaths. In Chicago, training on handling mental health and police work cut down on complaints and force used.

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Gun suicides make up over half of all gun deaths in the U.S. It’s vital to tackle mental health and improve suicide prevention to fight gun violence. Studies show a strong link between easy access to guns and higher suicide risks.

Supporting mental health and limiting gun access for those at risk can save lives. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for adults and the 3rd for youth in America. But, most gun violence isn’t from people with mental illness, about 95-97%.

Being violent before, getting into trouble with the law as a youth, facing physical abuse, or having parents with legal issues can predict future violence. Depression is the leading cause of disability globally, and using a gun in a suicide attempt is often fatal, happening nearly 85% of the time. Half of Americans will face mental illness at some point, but most gun deaths linked to mental illness are suicides.

Seeing violent events can lead to trauma and stress, which can cause mental health issues. Laws like Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) aim to prevent gun violence by focusing on risk, not mental illness. Removing mental illness would only cut gun violence by 4%. The U.S. doesn’t have more mental health issues than other countries but has much higher gun ownership and violence rates.

Metric Statistic
Proportion of gun-related deaths that are suicides 60%
Proportion of homicidal gun violence not carried out by individuals with a mental illness 95-97%
Suicide attempts with a firearm that result in death Nearly 85%
Reduction in gun violence by eliminating mental illness 4%

“Eliminating mental illness would only reduce gun violence in America by 4%.”

Conclusion

Gun violence in the U.S. shows a complex and worrying trend, with a record number of deaths from firearms in recent years. Even though the U.S. gun death rate is not as high as it was before, it’s still much higher than in most other developed countries. This issue affects some states, communities, and certain groups more than others.

To tackle this public health crisis, we need a wide-ranging approach. This includes using evidence-based policies, collecting better data, and tackling the social, economic, and mental health issues that lead to gun violence. By understanding the problem fully and finding effective solutions, the U.S. can lessen the harm from gun deaths and injuries.

Gun violence rates vary greatly across the country. States with strong gun laws have fewer deaths from firearms than those with weak laws. This highlights the need for targeted actions and a focus on fairness.

FAQ

What are the latest gun violence statistics in the United States?

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a rise in gun-related deaths in 2021. This includes a record number of gun murders and gun suicides.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted gun deaths in the U.S.?

Gun deaths in the U.S. have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic started. This includes a 50% rise in gun deaths among children and teens under 18. In 2021, there were 2,590 such deaths, up from 1,732 in 2019.

What proportion of gun deaths in the U.S. are suicides?

In 2021, 54% of gun deaths in the U.S. were from suicide. This equals 26,328 people. The other 43% were from murder, with 20,958 deaths. The gun suicide rate is now at a peak, similar to 1977.

What types of firearms are most commonly used in gun murders?

In 2020, most gun murders involved handguns, at 59%. Rifles were used in 3%, and shotguns in 1% of cases.

How do gun death rates vary across different states in the U.S.?

Gun death rates vary a lot across states. In 2021, the top rates were in Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama, and Wyoming. The lowest rates were in Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.

How are “mass shootings” defined and tracked in the U.S.?

“Mass shooting” definitions vary. The FBI tracks “active shooter incidents.” The Gun Violence Archive counts incidents with four or more shot, even if no one died.

How do gun death rates in the U.S. compare to other countries?

The U.S. has a much higher gun death rate than most countries. In 2016, it was 10.6 per 100,000 people. This is much higher than in Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and Spain.

How does the presence of firearms in domestic violence situations impact the risk of intimate partner homicide?

Firearms in domestic violence situations make these situations more deadly. The risk of intimate partner homicide can increase by up to 500% with a gun present.

What is the impact of child access prevention laws on unintentional firearm deaths and suicides involving minors?

Child access prevention laws help reduce gun deaths and suicides in kids. These laws require guns to be locked and unloaded. Studies show they lower the risk of accidents and suicides in minors.

How do concealed carry laws impact the number of police-involved shootings?

More people carrying concealed weapons can lead to more officer-involved shootings. Studies link these laws to an increase in such incidents. More guns in public can raise the risk of confrontations with police.

How are mental health and suicide prevention efforts related to reducing gun violence?

Since over half of gun deaths are suicides, improving mental health and suicide prevention is key to reducing gun violence. Research shows easy access to guns increases suicide risk. Guns are a highly dangerous way to end one’s life.

Source Links