Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 48,204 gun deaths in the US, marking the highest annual total on record, with a rate of 14.5 per 100,000 people.
- Firearm injuries treated in US emergency departments totaled 155,235 in 2021, a 29% increase from 2020.
- From 2019-2021, gun violence caused over 120,000 deaths, averaging more than 100 per day.
- In 2021, gun suicides for men: 22.9 per 100,000, women: 3.7.
- Black males aged 15-34 face gun homicide rate of 103.2 per 100,000.
- Women comprised 13% of gun homicide victims in 2021 (2,670 deaths).
- Homicides by firearm: 77% of all murders (2021 FBI).
- Suicides by gun: 54% of all US suicides (2021).
- Mass shootings (4+ injured/killed): 633 in 2023.
- Gun deaths rose 43% from 2010-2020.
- Mass shootings tripled from 2014-2023 (649 to 633 annually).
- Gun homicide rate peaked at 7.3 per 100k in 2021.
- Gun death rate: DC 28.5, Mississippi 28.6 per 100k 2021.
- California: 8.5 gun deaths per 100k, lowest state rate 2021.
- Chicago: 617 gun homicides in 2022.
Record gun violence deaths and injuries continue to devastate America, hitting children and Black communities hardest.
Demographic Breakdowns
- In 2021, gun suicides for men: 22.9 per 100,000, women: 3.7.
- Black males aged 15-34 face gun homicide rate of 103.2 per 100,000.
- Women comprised 13% of gun homicide victims in 2021 (2,670 deaths).
- Hispanic youth gun death rate: 6.1 per 100,000 vs 1.8 for non-Hispanic whites (2021).
- Gun suicide rate for adults 75+: 40.5 per 100,000 males.
- American Indian/Alaska Native gun death rate: 25.5 per 100,000 (2021).
- Children under 12: 531 accidental gun deaths 2015-2021.
- 87% of gun murder victims are male, per FBI data 2015-2021 average.
- Black children (0-19): 14.4 gun deaths per 100,000 vs 1.7 white.
- Rural gun death rate 16.5 per 100,000 vs urban 12.1 (2019-2021).
- Gun suicides peak at ages 85+ for both sexes, 50+ per 100,000 men.
- Female intimate partner gun homicides: 70% of women killed by partners.
- Asian/Pacific Islander gun homicide rate: 1.2 per 100,000 (2021).
- Teens 18-19: 35 gun deaths per 100,000 males Black.
- Gun violence victims under 25: 60% Black despite 13% population.
- Elderly (65+) gun suicide rate: 21.4 per 100,000, 80% male.
- LGBTQ+ youth face 4x higher gun violence victimization rates.
- Veterans: gun suicide rate 23.5 per 100,000 vs 14.0 civilian.
- Low-income zip codes: gun homicide 5x higher than affluent areas.
- Transgender individuals: 45% report intimate partner gun threats.
- Native Hawaiian youth gun death rate: 12.3 per 100,000.
- Gun homicides among pregnant women up 25% post-2019.
- Mass shootings: 97% of shooters male, average age 33.
- Gun suicides: whites 79% of victims, 93% rural.
- Black females gun homicide rate: 4.2 per 100,000 (2021).
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
Fatalities and Injuries
- In 2022, there were 48,204 gun deaths in the US, marking the highest annual total on record, with a rate of 14.5 per 100,000 people.
- Firearm injuries treated in US emergency departments totaled 155,235 in 2021, a 29% increase from 2020.
- From 2019-2021, gun violence caused over 120,000 deaths, averaging more than 100 per day.
- Nonfatal firearm injuries reached 81,000 in 2021, with medical costs exceeding $2.1 billion annually.
- Children and teens (0-19) accounted for 2,590 gun deaths in 2021, 79% higher than 2019.
- Gunshot wounds are the leading cause of death for US children and adolescents, surpassing motor vehicle crashes and cancer combined.
- In 2023, preliminary data shows over 43,000 gun deaths, with suicides comprising 54%.
- Firearm homicide rates rose 35% from 2019 to 2020, from 4.5 to 6.1 per 100,000.
- Unintentional firearm deaths totaled 534 in 2021, primarily among males aged 0-44.
- Hospitalizations for firearm assaults increased 41% from 2019 to 2020.
- Gun violence medical spending hit $12.9 billion in 2021 for hospitalizations alone.
- Black Americans experienced 29.3 gun deaths per 100,000 in 2021, vs 2.1 for whites.
- Males accounted for 87% of gun deaths in 2021, totaling 39,707.
- Firearm suicides reached 26,993 in 2021, 55% of all suicides.
- Gun homicides surged 45% in large cities from 2019 to 2021.
- Pediatric firearm injuries cost $1.3 billion in emergency care from 2012-2021.
- Defensive gun uses are estimated at 500,000 to 3 million annually, per varying studies.
- Mass shooting deaths totaled 693 in 2021 across 43 incidents.
- Gun deaths among youth (1-17) hit 2,561 in 2022, up 50% from 2019.
- Firearm injury disparities show Black children 18 times more likely to die than white children.
- In 2020, gun murders rose to 19,384, highest since 1990.
- Non-suicide gun deaths increased 13% from 2021 to 2022.
- Firearm-related ED visits for ages 0-17 doubled from 2019 to 2022.
- Total gun violence victims in 2023: over 42,000 dead, 37,000 wounded.
- Gunshot survival rate is 80-90%, but long-term disability affects 20-30%.
- Annual economic cost of gun violence exceeds $557 billion, including $45B medical.
- Firearm homicides for ages 15-34: 18.4 per 100,000 for Black males.
- Unintentional shootings injure 15,958 annually on average (2015-2019).
- Gun deaths per 100,000: 14.2 in 2021, highest among high-income nations.
- Mass casualty shootings (4+ killed) averaged 4 per year pre-2019, 11 in 2023.
Fatalities and Injuries Interpretation
Geographic Distribution
- Gun death rate: DC 28.5, Mississippi 28.6 per 100k 2021.
- California: 8.5 gun deaths per 100k, lowest state rate 2021.
- Chicago: 617 gun homicides in 2022.
- Louisiana highest gun death rate 25.2 per 100k.
- Mass shootings highest in TX, FL, CA (2023).
- Rural areas: 60% gun deaths suicides vs 40% urban.
- Philadelphia: 516 gun homicides 2021-2022 avg.
- Alaska: 72% households own guns, death rate 23.9.
- NYC: gun violence down 25% post-strict laws.
- Missouri: 21.2 gun deaths/100k post-permitless carry.
- South: 64% of gun homicides national total.
- Baltimore: 80% murders by gun, rate 50+/100k.
- Wyoming: highest gun suicide rate 32.1/100k.
- Gun trafficking: 70% guns in NYC from 5 states.
- Detroit: 309 gun homicides 2023.
- Hawaii: lowest gun death 2.1/100k.
- St. Louis: highest per capita homicide 69.4/100k.
- Northeast: lowest regional gun death 7.8/100k.
- Memphis: 304 gun homicides 2023.
- Montana: 26.6 gun deaths/100k, mostly suicides.
- LA County: 1,200+ gun deaths annually.
- DC: 23.7 gun homicides/100k residents.
- Oklahoma: 21.3/100k, high rural suicides.
- New Orleans: 266 homicides, 90% gun 2023.
- West Virginia: 21.3/100k gun deaths.
- Houston: 435 gun homicides 2023.
Geographic Distribution Interpretation
Incident Types
- Homicides by firearm: 77% of all murders (2021 FBI).
- Suicides by gun: 54% of all US suicides (2021).
- Mass shootings (4+ injured/killed): 633 in 2023.
- Domestic violence gun homicides: 1 woman killed every 14 hours.
- Accidental shootings: 548 deaths, 14,962 injuries in 2022.
- Police shootings: 1,232 people shot by police 2023, 50% fatal.
- Gang-related gun homicides: 13% of total urban murders.
- School shootings: 346 incidents in 2022-2023 school year.
- Road rage shootings: 522 incidents in 2023.
- Workplace gun violence: 457 incidents 2014-2023.
- Defensive gun uses: 1.5 million criminally victimizing uses annually (NCVS).
- Officer-involved shootings: 72% handgun, 25% rifle (2023).
- Public mass shootings: 4 per day average in 2023 (GVA def).
- Gun thefts from vehicles: 1.3 million firearms 2017-2021.
- Drive-by shootings: 30% of urban homicides.
- Suicide attempts by gun: 85% fatal vs 5% other methods.
- Active shooter incidents: 48 in 2023, 94% ended before police arrival.
- Bar/nightclub shootings: 214 incidents 2023.
- Child access prevention failures: 75% of child gun deaths home guns.
- Insanity defense in mass shootings: used in 1% of cases.
- Gun show sales linked to 20% trace to crime (ATF).
- Hunting accidents: 521 nonfatal injuries annually.
- Protest-related shootings: 125 incidents post-2020.
- Family/domestic: 52% of female homicides by gun.
- Robbery gun use: 40% of armed robberies involve firearms.
Incident Types Interpretation
Trends Over Time
- Gun deaths rose 43% from 2010-2020.
- Mass shootings tripled from 2014-2023 (649 to 633 annually).
- Gun homicide rate peaked at 7.3 per 100k in 2021.
- Firearm suicides declined 7% from 2019-2022 for youth.
- Total gun deaths: 38,390 in 2019 to 48,204 in 2022 (+25%).
- Black gun homicide rate up 50% 2019-2021.
- Permitless carry states saw 20% homicide rise post-law.
- Gun production: 23 million firearms manufactured 2022.
- Youth gun deaths doubled 2019-2022.
- Pandemic surge: gun violence up 30% in 200 largest cities 2020.
- Background checks: 28 million in 2023, record high.
- Gun suicides steady at 50% of total suicides since 2000.
- Female gun deaths up 15% 2016-2021.
- Concealed carry permits: 22 million nationwide 2023.
- Gun trafficking seizures up 25% 2019-2022.
- School gun violence: 39 incidents 2023-24 so far.
- States with assault weapon bans: 20% lower mass shooting rate.
- Gun ownership: 32% households 2023, stable since 2010.
- Homicides fell 12% in 2023 after 2020 peak.
- Rural gun deaths rose 40% 1999-2020.
- Gun import surge: 1.8 million from abroad 2022.
- Extreme risk laws reduced suicides 7.5% in 4 states.
- Universal checks states: 15% lower gun death rates.
- Gun violence restraint orders prevented 180 suicides.
- Firearm death rate for kids 10x OECD average 2021.
- States expanding Medicaid saw 6% gun death drop.
Trends Over Time Interpretation
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