A nation that sees 20,958 lives taken by gunfire in a single year is a nation in crisis, as tragically illustrated by data revealing gun homicides spiked 45% from 2019 to 2020, Black Americans are disproportionately victimized, children face rising mortality rates, and suicide by firearm claims tens of thousands more lives annually.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 20,958 gun homicides in the United States according to CDC data
- Firearm homicides increased by 45% from 2019 to 2020, reaching 19,384 cases
- In 2021, handguns were used in 53% of all firearm homicides reported by the FBI
- In 2022, gun suicides totaled 27,300 in the US per CDC provisional data
- Firearm suicides accounted for 55% of all suicides in 2021
- From 2020-2021, gun suicides rose 2.5% to 24,292
- In 2023, Gun Violence Archive recorded 646 mass shootings by December
- 2022 saw 647 mass shootings, highest on record per GVA
- From 1982-2023, 151 mass shootings in Mother Jones database
- In 2021, there were 41,543 nonfatal gun injuries treated in ERs
- Gunshot wounds cost $2.8 billion in hospital charges in 2021
- From 2019-2020, nonfatal firearm injuries rose 34% to 39,707 ER visits
- In 2022, 2,590 children died by gunfire, highest on record
- Black children and teens comprised 59% of child gun death victims in 2022
- 82% of children killed by guns in 2021 were boys
Gun violence tragically kills tens of thousands of Americans each year.
Gun Homicides
1In 2022, there were 20,958 gun homicides in the United States according to CDC data
Verified2Firearm homicides increased by 45% from 2019 to 2020, reaching 19,384 cases
Verified3In 2021, handguns were used in 53% of all firearm homicides reported by the FBI
Verified4Black Americans accounted for 60% of gun homicide victims in 2022 despite being 14% of the population
Directional5From 2015-2019, 81% of homicide victims aged 1-17 were killed with guns
Single source6In 2023, Chicago recorded 617 gun homicides
Verified7Gun homicides in the US rose 35% between 2019 and 2020 per FBI data
Verified8Males comprised 88% of gun homicide victims in 2021
Verified9In 2022, Philadelphia had 516 gun homicides
Directional10Firearm homicides among children aged 1-17 increased 83.6% from 2019 to 2020
Single source11In 2021, 14,778 people were murdered with handguns alone
Verified12Baltimore saw 316 gun homicides in 2022
Verified13Gun homicides peaked at 21,000 in 2021 per provisional CDC data
Verified14From 1999-2020, over 400,000 people died from gun homicides
Directional15In 2023, Detroit reported 252 gun homicides
Single source16Assaults with firearms made up 73% of gun homicides in urban areas in 2020
Verified17St. Louis had a gun homicide rate of 69.4 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified18New Orleans recorded 266 gun homicides in 2022
Verified19Gun homicides increased 30% in rural counties from 2019-2021
Directional20In 2021, 77% of murder victims in DC were killed by firearms
Single source21Memphis had 313 gun homicides in 2022
Verified22Firearm homicide rates for Black males aged 15-34 are 105 per 100,000
Verified23Cleveland saw 172 gun homicides in 2022
Verified24Gun homicides in suburbs rose 26% from 2019-2020
Directional25Kansas City reported 169 gun homicides in 2022
Single source26In 2020, 79% of intimate partner homicides involved firearms
Verified27Indianapolis had 215 gun homicides in 2022
Verified28Gun homicide victims aged 18-24 numbered 6,800 in 2021
Verified29Milwaukee recorded 190 gun homicides in 2022
Directional30Atlanta had 162 gun homicides in 2022
Single sourceGun Homicides Interpretation
This grim statistical symphony tells a story where the most common instrument of death is a handgun, the most likely victims are young men, and the crescendo of violence over recent years has been devastatingly loud, particularly for Black communities, who bear a tragically disproportionate burden of the horror.
Gun Injuries
1In 2021, there were 41,543 nonfatal gun injuries treated in ERs
Verified2Gunshot wounds cost $2.8 billion in hospital charges in 2021
Verified3From 2019-2020, nonfatal firearm injuries rose 34% to 39,707 ER visits
Verified475% of nonfatal gun injury victims are male
Directional5Black males aged 15-34 have highest nonfatal gun injury rate 363.5 per 100k
Single source6In 2022, GVA reported 31,615 gun injury incidents
Verified7Firearm assaults caused 80% of nonfatal gun injuries in 2020
Verified8Children under 18 had 2,590 nonfatal gun injuries in 2021
Verified91.2 million nonfatal gun victimizations 2017-2021 per NCVS
Directional10Gun injuries among teens 12-17 rose 41% 2019-2020
Single source11Hospital stays for gun injuries averaged 4.5 days costing $22,000 each in 2021
Verified1258% of gun injury ER patients discharged same day in 2021
Verified13From 2016-2020, 140,000 nonfatal gun injuries in 10 largest cities
Verified14Gun injuries to extremities 60% of cases, torso 20%, head/neck 15%
Directional15Suicide attempts by gun cause 90% of nonfatal brain injuries from firearms
Single source16In 2020, 30% increase in pediatric gun injuries to 1,262 hospitalizations
Verified17Black children have 18x higher gun injury rate than white children
Verified1825,000 Americans suffer permanent disabilities from gun injuries yearly
Verified19Gun injury survival rate improved to 85% due to trauma care advances
Directional2040% of nonfatal gun injuries involve multiple victims per incident
Single source21Elderly gun injury hospitalization rate 2.5 per 100k vs 50 for youth
Verified22In 2022, 80% of gun injuries from assaults in urban areas
Verified23Gunshot nerve injuries require 2.5 surgeries on average
Verified24Lifetime cost of nonfatal gun injury $2.5 million per victim
Directional252021 saw 45% rise in defensive gun uses resulting in injuries
Single source26In 2023, over 10,000 gun injuries in mass shootings per GVA
VerifiedGun Injuries Interpretation
Behind the numbing statistics—from the epidemic of youth trauma to the staggering economic toll—lies a simple truth: America is not just debating gun rights, but routinely paying for them in blood, bankruptcy, and lifelong disability.
Gun Suicides
1In 2022, gun suicides totaled 27,300 in the US per CDC provisional data
Verified2Firearm suicides accounted for 55% of all suicides in 2021
Verified3From 2020-2021, gun suicides rose 2.5% to 24,292
Verified4White males aged 45-64 had the highest gun suicide rate of 32.3 per 100,000 in 2021
Directional560% of gun deaths are suicides, totaling over 24,000 annually on average
Single source6Gun suicides increased 14% from 2019 to 2020
Verified7In 2022, rural areas saw 70% of gun suicides despite 20% population
Verified8Veterans account for 13.5% of gun suicides despite 7% population
Verified9Handguns used in 52% of gun suicides in 2021 FBI data
Directional10Gun suicide rate for men is 6 times higher than women at 13.7 vs 2.3 per 100k
Single source11From 2000-2020, gun suicides among youth aged 10-19 rose 48%
Verified1285% of gun suicides use handguns
Verified13In 2021, 48% of suicide decedents tested positive for alcohol
Verified14Gun suicides cost $70 billion in lifetime medical and work loss in 2020
Directional15Males aged 75+ have gun suicide rate of 41.8 per 100,000
Single source16From 2011-2020, gun suicides in 10 states with highest rates averaged 20+ per 100k
Verified171 in 5 gun suicides involve illegally possessed firearms
Verified18Gun suicide attempts have 85-91% fatality rate vs 5% for other methods
Verified19In 2022, Montana had gun suicide rate of 36.1 per 100,000
Directional20Wyoming's gun suicide rate was 29.7 per 100k in 2021
Single source21Gun suicides among American Indian/Alaska Natives: 9.5 per 100k
Verified2254% of gun suicides occur in the home
Verified23From 1999-2019, gun suicides totaled 447,944
Verified24Gun suicide rates in states with more guns are 3x higher
Directional25Elderly white men have 80% of gun suicides in that demographic
Single source26In 2021, 14,619 gun suicides among males aged 25-44
Verified27Alaska gun suicide rate 26.8 per 100k in 2022
Verified28New Mexico 24.4 per 100k gun suicides 2021
Verified29Idaho 23.6 per 100k gun suicides 2021
Directional30Oklahoma 22.9 per 100k gun suicides 2021
Single sourceGun Suicides Interpretation
While we rightly rage about the external carnage of gun violence, these numbers reveal an American tragedy where the primary target is most often the person pulling the trigger, painting a sobering picture of a public health crisis that is predominantly white, male, middle-aged, rural, and chillingly efficient.
Mass Shootings
1In 2023, Gun Violence Archive recorded 646 mass shootings by December
Verified22022 saw 647 mass shootings, highest on record per GVA
Verified3From 1982-2023, 151 mass shootings in Mother Jones database
Verified4In 2023, 44 mass public shootings per FBI definition
Directional5Uvalde school shooting killed 21 on May 24, 2022
Single source6Buffalo supermarket shooting killed 10 Black shoppers on May 14, 2022
Verified7Highland Park parade shooting wounded 48 on July 4, 2022
Verified8Monterey Park dance studio shooting killed 11 on Jan 21, 2023
Verified983% of mass shooters obtain guns legally per Everytown 2009-2020 data
Directional10Mass shootings doubled from 2019's 417 to 846 in 2023 YTD
Single source1190% of mass public shooters are male
Verified12Pulse nightclub shooting killed 49 on June 12, 2016
Verified13Las Vegas concert shooting killed 60 on Oct 1, 2017
Verified14Parkland school shooting killed 17 on Feb 14, 2018
Directional15El Paso Walmart shooting killed 23 on Aug 3, 2019
Single source16Boulder King Soopers shooting killed 10 on March 22, 2021
Verified17Oxford school shooting killed 4 students Dec 2021
Verified18Allen TX mall shooting killed 8 on May 6, 2023
Verified19Nashville school shooting killed 6 on March 27, 2023
Directional20Michigan State University shooting killed 3 on Feb 13, 2023
Single source2164% of mass shooters had history of domestic violence
Verified22Half of mass shooters displayed warning behaviors months prior
Verified232021 had 689 mass shootings per GVA
Verified24Schools saw 346 mass shootings 2018-2023
Directional25AR-15 style rifles used in 25 of 86 mass shootings since 1999
Single source2681% of mass shooters obtained weapons from family/friends legally
Verified27Louisville bank shooting killed 5 on April 10, 2023
Verified28Lewiston ME shootings killed 18 on Oct 25, 2023
Verified29Half Moon Bay shootings killed 7 on Jan 23, 2023
DirectionalMass Shootings Interpretation
If the grim arithmetic of gun violence—where record-breaking statistics meet the heartbreaking repetition of familiar tragedies, legal loopholes, and missed warnings—feels like a national script we're forced to reread yearly, it's because we have tragically chosen not to rewrite it.
Youth Gun Violence
1In 2022, 2,590 children died by gunfire, highest on record
Verified2Black children and teens comprised 59% of child gun death victims in 2022
Verified382% of children killed by guns in 2021 were boys
Verified4From 2019-2022, child gun deaths rose 83%
Directional51,527 unintentional gun deaths among children 1999-2021
Single source653 school shootings in 2023 with child victims
Verified7Teens 18-20 are 10x more likely to die by gun homicide than Europeans
Verified8300 children shot daily in US, 1 killed every 2 hours
Verified975% of youth gun deaths are homicides, 18% suicides, 6% accidents
Directional10In 2021, 2,300 teens died by gun suicide
Single source11Black boys aged 15-19 have gun death rate 94 per 100k
Verified1287 school shootings in first 90 days of 2023
Verified13400+ kids under 12 shot themselves accidentally since 2020
Verified14Youth gun violence costs $127 billion lifetime per cohort
Directional151 in 5 Gen Z knows someone killed by gun
Single source16Hispanic youth gun death rate 8.9 per 100k vs 2.2 white
Verified1765% of school shooters obtained guns from family
Verified182022 saw 104 kids under 11 die by accidental gunshots
Verified19Gun violence is leading cause of death for children 1-19 since 2020
Directional201,200 youth wounded in mass shootings 2015-2022
Single source21Asian/Pacific Islander youth gun homicide rate doubled 2019-2021
Verified2240% of youth gun deaths in South, 25% West
Verified23Rural youth gun death rate 6.5 per 100k vs urban 7.2
Verified2425% of child gun deaths from police shootings
Directional25Youth suicide by gun rose 60% 2007-2021
Single source261,000+ kids shot in Chicago yearly
Verified2772% of youth mass shooters white males
Verified28American Indian youth gun death rate 18.5 per 100k
VerifiedYouth Gun Violence Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim portrait of an American childhood increasingly defined by a brutal and unequal lottery of gun violence, where a child’s safety is often determined by their race, gender, zip code, and access to an unsecured firearm.
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