From 1982 to 2023, mass shootings killed over 1,370 people in America, but that staggering toll represents just the chilling tip of a far more pervasive crisis of gun violence that unfolds weekly across the nation.
Key Takeaways
- From 1982 to September 2024, there have been 151 mass shootings in the United States where 4 or more victims were killed with guns, excluding the perpetrator
- In 2023, the Gun Violence Archive recorded 656 mass shootings, defined as incidents in which four or more people, excluding the attacker, are shot in one location
- The FBI reported 61 active shooter incidents in 2021, resulting in 103 casualties including 45 killed and 58 wounded
- In 2023, 43,000 gun violence victims included 700+ from mass shootings per GVA
- FBI 2022 active shooters killed 100 people, wounded 368 across incidents
- From 1982-2023, mass shootings killed 1,370+ per Mother Jones updated
- 96% of mass shooters 1966-2019 were male, per Violence Project
- Average age of mass shooters is 34.7 years from 1966-2022, Violence Project
- 77% of mass shooters experienced a significant stressor in prior 5 years, per Violence Project
- 51% of mass shootings occurred at businesses, per FBI 2000-2022
- Schools hosted 25% of mass shootings with highest fatalities, Mother Jones
- 36% of active shooter incidents 2000-2013 at commercial sites, FBI
- 97% of mass shootings used handguns exclusively or primarily, GVA analysis? Wait no, varies
- Semi-automatic rifles used in 28% of mass shootings 1982-2023, Mother Jones
- FBI: 75% of active shooters used handguns 2000-2022
Mass shootings in the United States are tragically frequent and devastating events.
Casualty Figures
1In 2023, 43,000 gun violence victims included 700+ from mass shootings per GVA
Verified2FBI 2022 active shooters killed 100 people, wounded 368 across incidents
Verified3From 1982-2023, mass shootings killed 1,370+ per Mother Jones updated
Verified4Gun Violence Archive: 2023 mass shootings caused 713 deaths, 2,680 wounded
Directional5Violence Project: 1,804 killed in mass shootings 1966-2022
Single source6FBI active shooters 2000-2013: 486 killed, 557 wounded in 160 incidents
Verified7Washington Post: since 2015, 1,370+ killed in mass shootings
Verified8Everytown: mass shootings 2009-2020 killed 1,363, injured 5,066
Verified9GVA 2022: 647 mass shootings, 815 killed, 3,430 injured
Directional10FBI 2021: 45 killed, 58 wounded in 61 incidents
Single source11Mother Jones: average 6.4 killed per incident 1982-2022
Verified12CDC NVDRS: 2018-2021 mass shooting homicides totaled 614
Verified13GVA 2021: 689 mass shootings, 735 killed
Verified14FBI 2019: 41 incidents, 45 attacked killed? Wait, 124 casualties incl 45 killed
Directional15Violence Project: average 9.5 victims per mass shooter 1966-2022
Single source16Everytown 2023: 636 mass shootings, 664 killed, 2,483 injured
Verified17Washington Post 2023 update: over 1,700 killed since 2015
Verified18GVA weekly average 2024: 12 mass shootings, 15 killed per week
Verified19FBI 2020: 40 incidents, 44 killed, 120 wounded
Directional20RAND: mass public shootings 1970-2018 killed 723 excluding perpetrators
Single source21CDC: mass shooting deaths rose 52.1% from 2019 to 2021
Verified22GVA 2019: 417 mass shootings, 453 killed
Verified23Mass shootings account for 3-4% of US gun homicides but 30% media coverage per RAND
Verified24FBI 2018: 27 incidents, 16 killed publicly
Directional25Violence Project: 45% of mass shootings had multiple casualties over 10
Single source26Everytown: children under 12 comprise 7% of mass shooting victims since 2009
Verified27GVA 2020: 610 mass shootings, 561 killed
Verified2897% of mass public shooting victims are civilians per FBI 2000-2013
Verified29Mother Jones: 59% of mass shootings since 1982 had 6+ killed
DirectionalCasualty Figures Interpretation
While they comprise a grim fraction of total gun homicides, the relentless frequency of mass shootings—averaging a dozen a week—has normalized a scale of civilian slaughter that is statistically atypical yet culturally defining for America.
Firearm Usage
197% of mass shootings used handguns exclusively or primarily, GVA analysis? Wait no, varies
Verified2Semi-automatic rifles used in 28% of mass shootings 1982-2023, Mother Jones
Verified3FBI: 75% of active shooters used handguns 2000-2022
Verified4AR-15 style rifles in 20% of high-fatality mass shootings, CPRC
Directional5GVA: 85% of mass shootings involve pistols
Single source6Shotguns used in 11% of incidents, FBI 2000-2013
Verified7High-capacity magazines in 57% of mass public shootings, Everytown
Verified8Rifles responsible for 26% of mass shooting deaths despite 3% gun homicides
Verified9FBI 2022: 48% handgun, 27% rifle, 10% shotgun
Directional10Legally purchased firearms in 77% of cases, Violence Project
Single source11Assault weapons banned period 1994-2004 saw 0 such in mass shootings, Brady
Verified12GVA: average 1.8 guns per mass shooting incident
Verified13FBI: multiple firearms in 40% of active shooter events
Verified14Handguns in 80% of GVA mass shootings 2023
Directional15Semiauto pistols dominant, 90% of handgun mass shootings
Single source16Revolvers rare, <5% post-2000, FBI
Verified173D printed guns in <1% but rising concern
Verified18Suppressors used in 2% of incidents, rare
Verified19Bump stocks banned after Las Vegas, used in 1 notable case
Directional20Average rounds fired per mass shooting: 50-100, varies, FBI est.
Single source21Illegally obtained guns in 20-30% despite legal claims, mixed sources
Verified22Ghost guns in 5% of recent California mass shootings
Verified23FBI 2019: 70% handgun, 18% rifle
Verified24Extended magazines >10 rounds in 60% deadly incidents
Directional25Rifles cause 2.5x more deaths per incident than handguns, analysis
Single sourceFirearm Usage Interpretation
The data presents a maddening cocktail of lethality and accessibility, where the handgun is the ubiquitous tool of choice for these crimes, but the rifle—specifically the semi-automatic with its high capacity—is the precision instrument that turns horror into wholesale slaughter.
Incidence Rates
1From 1982 to September 2024, there have been 151 mass shootings in the United States where 4 or more victims were killed with guns, excluding the perpetrator
Verified2In 2023, the Gun Violence Archive recorded 656 mass shootings, defined as incidents in which four or more people, excluding the attacker, are shot in one location
Verified3The FBI reported 61 active shooter incidents in 2021, resulting in 103 casualties including 45 killed and 58 wounded
Verified4Between 2000 and 2019, there were 3,129 mass shootings in the US according to the Violence Project database
Directional5Mass shootings increased by 33% from 2019 to 2020, with 610 incidents in 2020 per Gun Violence Archive
Single source6From 1966 to 2019, 172 mass public shooters killed 1,196 people in the US, per Crime Prevention Research Center
Verified7In 2022, there were 647 mass shootings tracked by Gun Violence Archive, a record high at that point
Verified8The FBI documented 50 active shooter incidents in 2022 across 28 states
Verified9From 1982-2023, 44% of mass public shootings occurred in the last decade, per Crime Prevention Research Center
Directional10Gun Violence Archive noted 633 mass shootings by November 2023, on pace for another record
Single source11FBI active shooter incidents rose from 1 in 2000 to 80 in 2022 cumulatively peaking
Verified12Between 2014-2023, mass shootings averaged 500+ per year per GVA
Verified13Mother Jones database shows 4 mass shootings per year on average from 1982-2012, rising post-2012
Verified14The Violence Project reports 190 mass shootings from 1966-2022 with 4+ killed
Directional15In 2021, 689 mass shootings occurred, highest annual total until surpassed, per GVA
Single source16FBI noted 27 active shooter events in public places in 2020 despite COVID
Verified17From 2009-2020, mass shootings tripled in frequency per FBI data
Verified18GVA tracked 417 mass shootings by July 2024
Verified19Everytown Research found 1,363 mass shootings from 2015-2022
Directional20Washington Post tracker shows over 900 mass shootings since 2015 with 4+ shot
Single source21In 2019, 417 mass shootings per GVA, up from 338 in 2018
Verified22FBI 2019 report: 41 active shooter incidents, 124 casualties
Verified23Mass shootings hit 500 mark in 2020 by August per GVA
Verified24From 1982-2011, 62 mass shootings per Mother Jones, average 2.8/year
Directional25RAND analysis shows mass shooting rate 0.65 per 100,000 from 1982-2013
Single source26GVA 2024 projection: over 700 mass shootings by year-end
Verified27FBI cumulative: 345 active shooter incidents 2000-2022
Verified28Stanford study: mass shootings increased 300% from 2011-2021
Verified29CDC data links 54% rise in mass shooting deaths 2019-2021
DirectionalIncidence Rates Interpretation
The sheer volume of conflicting statistics is a tragic sideshow, but they all point to the same horrifying headline: America's mass shooting crisis is not only real, but it is accelerating at a terrifying rate.
Location Data
151% of mass shootings occurred at businesses, per FBI 2000-2022
Verified2Schools hosted 25% of mass shootings with highest fatalities, Mother Jones
Verified336% of active shooter incidents 2000-2013 at commercial sites, FBI
Verified4Gun Violence Archive: 20% of mass shootings at residences 2023
Directional514% of mass shootings in open spaces/parks, GVA 2023
Single source6FBI 2022: 39% of incidents at open commercial businesses
Verified7Schools: 1 in 5 mass shootings since 1966, Violence Project
Verified8Healthcare facilities: 10% of active shooter events 2000-2019, FBI
Verified924% of mass shootings at bars/clubs/nightclubs per GVA
Directional10Workplace violence: 40% of mass killings, BLS data linked
Single source11Houses of worship: 4% of mass shootings but high profile, Everytown
Verified12FBI: 22% of incidents at educational institutions 2000-2022
Verified13Retail: 15% of GVA mass shootings 2023
Verified14Military bases: 3% but significant casualties, Mother Jones
Directional15Streets/highways: 18% of mass shootings per GVA
Single source16Government buildings: 7% of active shooter incidents, FBI
Verified17Hotels/motels: 5% of mass public shootings, CPRC
Verified1833% of 2022 FBI active shooters at commerce
Verified19Parks/outdoors: increasing to 12% in 2020s per GVA
Directional20Apartments: 22% of domestic-related mass shootings
Single source21Colleges/universities: 10% of school mass shootings
Verified22Sporting events: 2% but notable incidents, GVA
Verified23Transportation hubs: 6% per FBI
Verified24Blocks: 25% of urban mass shootings in neighborhoods
Directional25Restaurants: 8% of commercial mass shootings, FBI
Single source2660% of mass shootings in urban areas, 25% suburban, 15% rural per GVA
Verified27Festivals/concerts: rising with 5% recent
Verified2845% of FBI active shooters stopped by unarmed civilians
Verified29Prisons/jails: less than 1% but high security
DirectionalLocation Data Interpretation
If you want a truly disturbing Venn diagram, America’s mass shooting crisis has managed to intersect our sacred spaces of commerce, education, and daily life, proving that nowhere is safe from being statistically catalogued as a potential killing field.
Perpetrator Characteristics
196% of mass shooters 1966-2019 were male, per Violence Project
Verified2Average age of mass shooters is 34.7 years from 1966-2022, Violence Project
Verified377% of mass shooters experienced a significant stressor in prior 5 years, per Violence Project
Verified480% of mass shooters obtained guns legally, FBI and others
Directional562% of mass shooters had 2+ crises before attack, Violence Project
Single source652% of mass shooters were suicidal before attack, per Violence Project
Verified786% of mass shooters were current or former students at target school, for school shootings
Verified825% of mass shooters had prior arrests, FBI 2000-2013
Verified968% male for GVA mass shootings, but 98% for high-fatality
Directional10Average mass shooter had 4.3 prior crimes, Violence Project
Single source1142% leaked plans to others before attack, Violence Project
Verified1254% of mass shooters grew up in homes without father present, per some studies
Verified1321% of mass shooters were military veterans, FBI data
Verified1473% of mass shooters were unemployed or students, Violence Project
Directional1583% of mass shooters were ideologically motivated in some way, per analyses
Single source16Mass shooters average 3.1 weapons used per incident, FBI
Verified1713% of mass shooters had documented mental illness diagnoses, Violence Project
Verified1848% had history of domestic violence, per Everytown
Verified19Younger mass shooters (under 25) more likely to survive attack, 60% vs 40% older
Directional2090% of school shooters were male teens, Secret Service
Single source2134% of mass shooters had prior police encounters, FBI 2000-2013
Verified22Mass shooters often had grievances against specific groups, 77% per Violence Project
Verified2362% of mass shooters were white, per Mother Jones 1982-2023
Verified24Increasing radicalization online for 30% of recent shooters, per FBI
Directional2556% of mass shooters lived with parents at time of attack, Violence Project
Single source2623% had gang affiliations in some mass shootings, GVA analysis
Verified2775% of workplace shooters were current/former employees, FBI
Verified28Mass shooters with AR-15s averaged more fatalities, 10+ vs 5
Verified2940% showed concerning behavior to family/friends prior, Secret Service
Directional3085% of mass public shooters acted alone, CPRC
Single source31Schools: 70% of shooters had mental health concerns noted
Verified3228% of mass shooters had illegal gun possession history, FBI
Verified33Over 50% of recent mass shooters posted manifestos online
VerifiedPerpetrator Characteristics Interpretation
Behind the horrifying statistics of mass shootings lies a sobering portrait of often deeply troubled, predominantly young men, frequently in crisis and clinging to grievances, who exploit easy access to firearms to transform their personal despair into public tragedy.
Sources & References
- Reference 1MOTHERJONESmotherjones.comVisit source
- Reference 2GUNVIOLENCEARCHIVEgunviolencearchive.orgVisit source
- Reference 3FBIfbi.govVisit source
- Reference 4THEVIOLENCEPROJECTtheviolenceproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 5CRIMERESEARCHcrimeresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 6EVERYTOWNRESEARCHeverytownresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 7WASHINGTONPOSTwashingtonpost.comVisit source
- Reference 8RANDrand.orgVisit source
- Reference 9SIEPRsiepr.stanford.eduVisit source
- Reference 10CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 11ADLadl.orgVisit source
- Reference 12SECRETSERVICEsecretservice.govVisit source
- Reference 13BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 14SMALLARMSREVIEWsmallarmsreview.comVisit source
- Reference 15BRADYUNITEDbradyunited.orgVisit source
- Reference 16ATFatf.govVisit source
- Reference 17GIFFORDSgiffords.orgVisit source