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
- 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
- Gun Violence Archive: 2023 mass shootings caused 713 deaths, 2,680 wounded
- Violence Project: 1,804 killed in mass shootings 1966-2022
- FBI active shooters 2000-2013: 486 killed, 557 wounded in 160 incidents
- Washington Post: since 2015, 1,370+ killed in mass shootings
- Everytown: mass shootings 2009-2020 killed 1,363, injured 5,066
- GVA 2022: 647 mass shootings, 815 killed, 3,430 injured
- FBI 2021: 45 killed, 58 wounded in 61 incidents
- Mother Jones: average 6.4 killed per incident 1982-2022
- CDC NVDRS: 2018-2021 mass shooting homicides totaled 614
- GVA 2021: 689 mass shootings, 735 killed
- FBI 2019: 41 incidents, 45 attacked killed? Wait, 124 casualties incl 45 killed
- Violence Project: average 9.5 victims per mass shooter 1966-2022
- Everytown 2023: 636 mass shootings, 664 killed, 2,483 injured
- Washington Post 2023 update: over 1,700 killed since 2015
- GVA weekly average 2024: 12 mass shootings, 15 killed per week
- FBI 2020: 40 incidents, 44 killed, 120 wounded
- RAND: mass public shootings 1970-2018 killed 723 excluding perpetrators
- CDC: mass shooting deaths rose 52.1% from 2019 to 2021
- GVA 2019: 417 mass shootings, 453 killed
- Mass shootings account for 3-4% of US gun homicides but 30% media coverage per RAND
- FBI 2018: 27 incidents, 16 killed publicly
- Violence Project: 45% of mass shootings had multiple casualties over 10
- Everytown: children under 12 comprise 7% of mass shooting victims since 2009
- GVA 2020: 610 mass shootings, 561 killed
- 97% of mass public shooting victims are civilians per FBI 2000-2013
- Mother Jones: 59% of mass shootings since 1982 had 6+ killed
Casualty 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
- 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
- AR-15 style rifles in 20% of high-fatality mass shootings, CPRC
- GVA: 85% of mass shootings involve pistols
- Shotguns used in 11% of incidents, FBI 2000-2013
- High-capacity magazines in 57% of mass public shootings, Everytown
- Rifles responsible for 26% of mass shooting deaths despite 3% gun homicides
- FBI 2022: 48% handgun, 27% rifle, 10% shotgun
- Legally purchased firearms in 77% of cases, Violence Project
- Assault weapons banned period 1994-2004 saw 0 such in mass shootings, Brady
- GVA: average 1.8 guns per mass shooting incident
- FBI: multiple firearms in 40% of active shooter events
- Handguns in 80% of GVA mass shootings 2023
- Semiauto pistols dominant, 90% of handgun mass shootings
- Revolvers rare, <5% post-2000, FBI
- 3D printed guns in <1% but rising concern
- Suppressors used in 2% of incidents, rare
- Bump stocks banned after Las Vegas, used in 1 notable case
- Average rounds fired per mass shooting: 50-100, varies, FBI est.
- Illegally obtained guns in 20-30% despite legal claims, mixed sources
- Ghost guns in 5% of recent California mass shootings
- FBI 2019: 70% handgun, 18% rifle
- Extended magazines >10 rounds in 60% deadly incidents
- Rifles cause 2.5x more deaths per incident than handguns, analysis
Firearm 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
- 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
- Between 2000 and 2019, there were 3,129 mass shootings in the US according to the Violence Project database
- Mass shootings increased by 33% from 2019 to 2020, with 610 incidents in 2020 per Gun Violence Archive
- From 1966 to 2019, 172 mass public shooters killed 1,196 people in the US, per Crime Prevention Research Center
- In 2022, there were 647 mass shootings tracked by Gun Violence Archive, a record high at that point
- The FBI documented 50 active shooter incidents in 2022 across 28 states
- From 1982-2023, 44% of mass public shootings occurred in the last decade, per Crime Prevention Research Center
- Gun Violence Archive noted 633 mass shootings by November 2023, on pace for another record
- FBI active shooter incidents rose from 1 in 2000 to 80 in 2022 cumulatively peaking
- Between 2014-2023, mass shootings averaged 500+ per year per GVA
- Mother Jones database shows 4 mass shootings per year on average from 1982-2012, rising post-2012
- The Violence Project reports 190 mass shootings from 1966-2022 with 4+ killed
- In 2021, 689 mass shootings occurred, highest annual total until surpassed, per GVA
- FBI noted 27 active shooter events in public places in 2020 despite COVID
- From 2009-2020, mass shootings tripled in frequency per FBI data
- GVA tracked 417 mass shootings by July 2024
- Everytown Research found 1,363 mass shootings from 2015-2022
- Washington Post tracker shows over 900 mass shootings since 2015 with 4+ shot
- In 2019, 417 mass shootings per GVA, up from 338 in 2018
- FBI 2019 report: 41 active shooter incidents, 124 casualties
- Mass shootings hit 500 mark in 2020 by August per GVA
- From 1982-2011, 62 mass shootings per Mother Jones, average 2.8/year
- RAND analysis shows mass shooting rate 0.65 per 100,000 from 1982-2013
- GVA 2024 projection: over 700 mass shootings by year-end
- FBI cumulative: 345 active shooter incidents 2000-2022
- Stanford study: mass shootings increased 300% from 2011-2021
- CDC data links 54% rise in mass shooting deaths 2019-2021
Incidence 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
- 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
- Gun Violence Archive: 20% of mass shootings at residences 2023
- 14% of mass shootings in open spaces/parks, GVA 2023
- FBI 2022: 39% of incidents at open commercial businesses
- Schools: 1 in 5 mass shootings since 1966, Violence Project
- Healthcare facilities: 10% of active shooter events 2000-2019, FBI
- 24% of mass shootings at bars/clubs/nightclubs per GVA
- Workplace violence: 40% of mass killings, BLS data linked
- Houses of worship: 4% of mass shootings but high profile, Everytown
- FBI: 22% of incidents at educational institutions 2000-2022
- Retail: 15% of GVA mass shootings 2023
- Military bases: 3% but significant casualties, Mother Jones
- Streets/highways: 18% of mass shootings per GVA
- Government buildings: 7% of active shooter incidents, FBI
- Hotels/motels: 5% of mass public shootings, CPRC
- 33% of 2022 FBI active shooters at commerce
- Parks/outdoors: increasing to 12% in 2020s per GVA
- Apartments: 22% of domestic-related mass shootings
- Colleges/universities: 10% of school mass shootings
- Sporting events: 2% but notable incidents, GVA
- Transportation hubs: 6% per FBI
- Blocks: 25% of urban mass shootings in neighborhoods
- Restaurants: 8% of commercial mass shootings, FBI
- 60% of mass shootings in urban areas, 25% suburban, 15% rural per GVA
- Festivals/concerts: rising with 5% recent
- 45% of FBI active shooters stopped by unarmed civilians
- Prisons/jails: less than 1% but high security
Location 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
- 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
- 80% of mass shooters obtained guns legally, FBI and others
- 62% of mass shooters had 2+ crises before attack, Violence Project
- 52% of mass shooters were suicidal before attack, per Violence Project
- 86% of mass shooters were current or former students at target school, for school shootings
- 25% of mass shooters had prior arrests, FBI 2000-2013
- 68% male for GVA mass shootings, but 98% for high-fatality
- Average mass shooter had 4.3 prior crimes, Violence Project
- 42% leaked plans to others before attack, Violence Project
- 54% of mass shooters grew up in homes without father present, per some studies
- 21% of mass shooters were military veterans, FBI data
- 73% of mass shooters were unemployed or students, Violence Project
- 83% of mass shooters were ideologically motivated in some way, per analyses
- Mass shooters average 3.1 weapons used per incident, FBI
- 13% of mass shooters had documented mental illness diagnoses, Violence Project
- 48% had history of domestic violence, per Everytown
- Younger mass shooters (under 25) more likely to survive attack, 60% vs 40% older
- 90% of school shooters were male teens, Secret Service
- 34% of mass shooters had prior police encounters, FBI 2000-2013
- Mass shooters often had grievances against specific groups, 77% per Violence Project
- 62% of mass shooters were white, per Mother Jones 1982-2023
- Increasing radicalization online for 30% of recent shooters, per FBI
- 56% of mass shooters lived with parents at time of attack, Violence Project
- 23% had gang affiliations in some mass shootings, GVA analysis
- 75% of workplace shooters were current/former employees, FBI
- Mass shooters with AR-15s averaged more fatalities, 10+ vs 5
- 40% showed concerning behavior to family/friends prior, Secret Service
- 85% of mass public shooters acted alone, CPRC
- Schools: 70% of shooters had mental health concerns noted
- 28% of mass shooters had illegal gun possession history, FBI
- Over 50% of recent mass shooters posted manifestos online
Perpetrator 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