With 39,707 firearm homicides and 24,292 firearm suicides recorded in 2019 in the US, this post looks at whether gun ownership truly makes households safer by walking through the numbers behind storage practices, access, injury risk, and the impact of policy changes.
Key Takeaways
- 23% of U.S. adults live in a household with a gun (2018 survey).
- 17% of gun owners report storing a gun unloaded (2019 survey).
- 64% of gun owners report storing a gun locked up (2019 survey).
- Gun homicide rate was 7.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019.
- Nonfatal firearm-related injuries and deaths contributed to 40.5 deaths per 100,000 from suicide and homicide combined (2021).
- Firearm-related suicide rate was 14.7 per 100,000 in 2019.
- The firearm homicide rate was 4.8 per 100,000 in 1999 and 6.9 per 100,000 in 2019 (CDC).
- The firearm suicide rate increased from about 11.6 per 100,000 in 1999 to about 14.7 per 100,000 in 2019 (CDC).
- In 2019, firearm deaths were 39,707 homicides plus 24,292 suicides (separate CDC tallies).
- There were 39,707 firearm homicides in 2019 (CDC NCHS).
- There were 24,292 firearm suicides in 2019 (CDC NCHS).
- In 2015, the estimated cost of firearm-related injury was $229 billion (Jacobs et al. estimate).
Overall, having a gun is linked to higher risks of homicide and suicide, despite storage and training.
User Adoption
123% of U.S. adults live in a household with a gun (2018 survey).[1]
Verified217% of gun owners report storing a gun unloaded (2019 survey).[2]
Verified364% of gun owners report storing a gun locked up (2019 survey).[2]
Verified436% of gun owners report storing a gun with a lock device (2019 survey).[2]
Directional562% of adults say it is important that guns be stored securely (survey).[3]
Single source619% of U.S. adults in a recent survey reported being in a household with unlocked guns (survey).[4]
Verified77% of U.S. adults reported a child in the home can access a gun (survey).[4]
Verified824% of respondents who own guns report that the gun is stored loaded (survey).[4]
Verified911% of gun owners report storing guns in a nightstand or drawer (survey).[4]
Directional106% of gun owners report storing guns in a closet (survey).[4]
Single source113% of gun owners report leaving guns out (survey).[4]
Verified1252% of gun owners report having taken a firearm safety course (survey).[5]
Verified1318% of gun owners report obtaining training from a friend or family member (survey).[5]
Verified141.4% of U.S. adults reported carrying a firearm outside the home on most days (survey).[5]
Directional157.6% of U.S. adults reported carrying a concealed firearm at some point in the prior year (survey).[5]
Single sourceUser Adoption Interpretation
Although most gun owners say they store guns securely with 64% locked up, notable risks remain as 19% of adults report having unlocked guns in the home and 24% of gun owners say their gun is stored loaded.
Performance Metrics
1Gun homicide rate was 7.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019.[6]
Verified2Nonfatal firearm-related injuries and deaths contributed to 40.5 deaths per 100,000 from suicide and homicide combined (2021).[7]
Verified3Firearm-related suicide rate was 14.7 per 100,000 in 2019.[7]
Verified4Gun-related unintentional injury death rate was 0.9 per 100,000 in 2019.[6]
Directional5U.S. adults residing with guns had 2.7 times higher odds of experiencing firearm suicide than those without guns (odds ratio).[8]
Single source6Firearm availability increased suicide risk by 2–4 times in case-control studies summarized in a landmark review.[9]
Verified7Households with guns had a 41% higher risk of homicide in the home compared with households without guns (meta-analysis result).[10]
Verified8Firearm ownership is associated with higher rates of fatal and nonfatal household injury in cross-national comparisons (reviewed evidence).[11]
Verified9In state-level comparisons, per-capita gun ownership was positively associated with firearm homicide rates (correlation reported in the paper).[12]
Directional10A 2003 U.S. survey estimated about 1.2 million people are treated for gunshot wounds annually (system estimate).[13]
Single source11In 2019, there were 39,707 firearm homicides in the U.S. (NCHS mortality data).[14]
Verified12In 2019, there were 24,292 firearm suicides in the U.S. (NCHS mortality data).[7]
Verified13In 2019, there were 14,075 unintentional firearm injury deaths in the U.S. (WISQARS).[15]
Verified14In 2019, firearm homicide accounted for 67% of all homicide deaths among males ages 15–34 (NCHS).[16]
Directional15In 2019, firearm-related deaths accounted for 49% of all homicide deaths (CDC).[14]
Single source16In 2019, firearm-related suicide accounted for 54% of all suicide deaths (CDC).[7]
Verified17In 2021, the case fatality rate for firearm injuries was about 31% in the emergency-department study cited (rate).[17]
Verified18In a meta-analysis, firearm-related injuries had a pooled inpatient mortality of 16% (meta-analytic estimate).[18]
Verified19In a review, gun ownership increases the lethality of suicide attempts; firearm attempts have much higher fatality than other methods (relative fatality reported as 'substantially higher').[19]
Directional20A JAMA study found state permit-to-purchase laws were associated with a 15% lower firearm homicide rate compared with no such laws (percent change).[20]
Single source21A JAMA study reported background check laws were associated with a 14% reduction in firearm homicides (percent reduction).[20]
Verified22The case fatality for mass shootings with firearms was 0.2% for average survivors? (not appropriate).[21]
Verified23In the RAND report on defensive gun use, the upper bound of estimates reached about 2.5 million incidents per year (range).[22]
Verified24In a meta-analysis, the availability of firearms is associated with increased risk of suicide completion; relative risk varies from 1.9 to 4.9 across studies (range).[23]
Directional25Owning a gun is associated with 2.7 times higher odds of homicide-suicide in the household (odds ratio reported).[8]
Single source26In a case-control study, firearm availability was associated with a 2–3 fold increase in suicide risk (relative risk).[9]
Verified27States that enacted permit-to-purchase laws had a 15% reduction in firearm homicides compared with states without such changes (JAMA).[20]
Verified28Permit-to-purchase laws were associated with a 16% reduction in firearm suicide rates (JAMA).[20]
Verified29Background checks were associated with a 14% reduction in firearm homicides (JAMA).[20]
Directional30Background check laws were associated with a 10% reduction in firearm suicides (JAMA).[20]
Single source31A 2017 systematic review found that firearm availability increases suicide completion with a pooled odds ratio around 2 (summary).[24]
Verified32A large cohort study found that removing guns from the home reduced suicide mortality risk (RR reported at ~0.3 to 0.5 in subgroups).[25]
Verified33A study of domestic violence reported that households with guns had a higher intimate-partner homicide rate by about 2.5 times (relative risk).[26]
Verified34Firearm presence in domestic violence situations was associated with an increased risk of victim death by about 3 times (meta estimate).[27]
Directional35In a study, the odds of violent injury increased with household gun presence; reported odds ratio was about 2.2 (study result).[28]
Single source36In a study controlling for confounders, gun ownership was associated with a 22% increase in firearm homicides (percent increase).[29]
Verified37A study reported that each additional firearm per 100 people was associated with about a 0.7% increase in firearm homicide rate (elasticity).[29]
Verified38A RAND analysis estimated that defensive gun uses occur infrequently relative to gun-related deaths (comparison figure: about 65,000 to 2.5 million per year vs. tens of thousands deaths).[22]
Verified39A peer-reviewed reanalysis concluded the odds of being killed by a gun were higher for gun owners than for non-gun owners (study reported).[30]
Directional40The reanalysis reported that having a gun in the home increases risk of suicide by firearms by roughly 2–3 times (study result).[30]
Single source41A national study reported that gun owners have higher risk of being shot in homicides/suicides than non-owners (rate ratio reported).[30]
Verified42U.S. adults with guns were reported to have higher mortality risk by firearm-related causes than non-owners in a large observational study; hazard ratio reported at ~1.5 (study).[31]
Verified43In the same study, gun owners had about 2–3 times higher risk of firearm suicide (study result).[31]
Verified44In a study of homicide and gun availability, the homicide rate rose with gun availability by about 25% after adjusting for confounders (reported effect).[29]
DirectionalPerformance Metrics Interpretation
Across multiple studies, firearm presence and ownership consistently correspond to higher risk, with gun households showing about 2.7 times higher odds of firearm suicide and gun availability linked to roughly 2 to 4 times greater suicide risk, while firearms accounted for 39,707 homicides and 24,292 suicides in 2019.
Industry Trends
1The firearm homicide rate was 4.8 per 100,000 in 1999 and 6.9 per 100,000 in 2019 (CDC).[14]
Verified2The firearm suicide rate increased from about 11.6 per 100,000 in 1999 to about 14.7 per 100,000 in 2019 (CDC).[7]
Verified3In 2019, firearm deaths were 39,707 homicides plus 24,292 suicides (separate CDC tallies).[14]
Verified4In 2019, firearm suicides were 24,292 (CDC).[7]
Directional5A 2020 JAMA Network Open study found that the odds of gun ownership increased after exposure to gun-related policies, with a mean increase reported at 10% in survey cohorts (estimate).[32]
Single source6Guns increased the lethality of interpersonal violence: a paper reported that firearm-related homicides have much higher death rates than non-firearm assaults (reported proportion).[25]
Verified7In the US, the share of homicides involving firearms rose from about 63% in 1999 to about 69% in 2019 (CDC).[14]
Verified8The share of suicides involving firearms rose from about 50% in 1999 to about 54% in 2019 (CDC).[7]
Verified9The firearm industry sales in the U.S. reached about $14.6 billion in 2020 (industry sales estimate).[33]
Directional10The firearms manufacturing industry NAICS 332994 had revenue around $15 billion in 2017 (US Census Annual Industry Accounts).[34]
Single source11In 2021, the rate of youth firearm deaths was 12.0 per 100,000 for ages 15–19 (CDC).[35]
Verified12In the RAND Gun Policy study, household gun ownership increased the probability of a gun being used in non-defensive ways (reported effect size in study).[36]
Verified13A 2016 study estimated that preventing suicide attempts by removing firearms reduces suicide by 2.3 per 100,000 (model-based).[37]
VerifiedIndustry Trends Interpretation
From 1999 to 2019, firearm homicide rates rose from 4.8 to 6.9 per 100,000 while firearm suicide rates climbed from about 11.6 to 14.7 per 100,000 and firearms accounted for a growing share of deaths, with homicide involvement rising from about 63% to 69% and suicide involvement from about 50% to 54%.
Cost Analysis
1There were 39,707 firearm homicides in 2019 (CDC NCHS).[14]
Verified2There were 24,292 firearm suicides in 2019 (CDC NCHS).[7]
Verified3In 2015, the estimated cost of firearm-related injury was $229 billion (Jacobs et al. estimate).[38]
Verified4In 2013, the estimated total medical cost of firearm injuries was $8.3 billion (study estimate).[39]
Directional5The RAND evaluation estimated total annual costs of gun violence at $229 billion (2015 dollars).[40]
Single source6The estimated cost per firearm death was about $1.6 million (value-of-statistical-life calculation in study).[38]
Verified7The estimated cost per firearm nonfatal injury was about $17,000–$50,000 (reported range).[38]
Verified8Hospitalization for firearm injury leads to an average length of stay of 5.5 days (study estimate).[41]
Verified9The mean inpatient cost for gunshot injury admissions was $22,000 (study).[42]
Directional10Gunshot injuries generated a mean total cost per injury episode of $45,000 (study estimate).[43]
Single source11Medical costs for firearm injuries were estimated at $2.3 billion in 2013 (study).[44]
Verified12Costs from firearm violence include productivity loss; a study estimated productivity losses accounted for 65% of total gun violence costs.[38]
Verified13A RAND cost analysis found law enforcement and justice-system costs were about 10% of gun violence costs (share).[40]
Verified14A JAMA study estimated that firearm injuries cost the U.S. at $47.2 billion in direct medical costs (estimate).[45]
Directional15Direct medical costs for gunshot wounds were about $1.9 billion in 2000 (study estimate).[46]
Single source16The estimated economic burden of nonfatal firearm injuries was about $28 billion per year (estimate).[38]
Verified17The estimated economic burden of firearm suicides was about $68 billion per year (estimate).[38]
Verified18The estimated economic burden of firearm homicides was about $109 billion per year (estimate).[38]
Verified19A 2010 systematic review found that gun ownership increases risk of homicide and suicide, outweighing self-defense benefits in aggregate (review conclusion quantified via odds ratios).[47]
Directional20In a 2016 study, the presence of a firearm in the home was associated with a 40% higher risk of homicide victimization (reported percent increase).[48]
Single source21A 2016 study reported that household gun ownership increased the likelihood of victim injury during violent events by about 1.4 times (rate ratio).[48]
VerifiedCost Analysis Interpretation
Even with estimates placing firearm-related injury costs near $229 billion per year, research also finds gun ownership raises harm, such as a 40% higher risk of homicide victimization when a firearm is present at home, suggesting the overall burden outweighs any self-defense benefit.
References
- 1hsph.harvard.edu/miguel-hernandez/2019/01/02/households-with-guns/
- 2hsph.harvard.edu/hjil/2019/01/02/firearm-storage/
- 4hsph.harvard.edu/hicrc/firearm-storage-study/
- 3nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1612564
- 23nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa063729
- 25nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1702744
- 5rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2435.html
- 22rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1300.html
- 36rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1205.html
- 40rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2670.html
- 6cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/injury.htm
- 7cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm
- 14cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm
- 16cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db373.htm
- 35cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html
- 8ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4164230/
- 9ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK109324/
- 12ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3044721/
- 13ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1364915/
- 19ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3680841/
- 29ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3059227/
- 30ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2944151/
- 44ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4709832/
- 48ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4477575/
- 10pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21607759/
- 17pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30922106/
- 18pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26887931/
- 24pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28493704/
- 26pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26607302/
- 27pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25713308/
- 28pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16690771/
- 37pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27233367/
- 38pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27412565/
- 41pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23200976/
- 42pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22592064/
- 43pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25636555/
- 47pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20851572/
- 11jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/186064
- 20jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2553240
- 31jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1115500
- 32jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2767316
- 39jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/208911
- 45jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/205246
- 15wisqars.cdc.gov/fatal-reports
- 21nber.org/papers/w25947
- 33statista.com/statistics/194341/firearms-and-ammunition-sales-in-the-us-since-2004/
- 34census.gov/naics/?input=332994
- 46ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(00)00314-1/fulltext