Gun Violence Facts
Get the facts: Gun violence facts in America
Knowing gun violence facts is critically important as we educate ourselves and others about its impact, advocate for common ground gun reform and safe storage plus participate in programs with like-minded groups to help make our communities safer for everyone.
The impact of guns violence in the U.S.
Every year in the U.S., some 46,000 people are killed by gun violence.
56% are lost to suicide, 40% to homicide and 4% to preventable accidents.
Source:
everystat.org
Source:
The Trace, a nonprofit news organization
Source:
Everytown for Gun Safety
Source:
Everytown for Gun Safety
Its Impact on Children
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
4.6 million children live in homes with at least one loaded, unlocked gun.
Source:
Everytown for Gun Safety
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Exposure to fatal gun shootings is linked to a 21% increase in young peoples’ antidepressant use during the following two years.
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
Its Role in Suicides
Nearly 6 of every 10 firearm deaths in the U.S. are suicides.
Source: Everytown for Gun Safety
Suicide attempts using a gun are fatal 85% of the time.
Source: Brady United Against Gun Violence
Military veterans are 3X more likely to die by gun suicide than non-veterans.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs
Access to a gun in the homes increases by 300% the risk of death by suicide.
Source: Brady United Against Gun Violence
Its Effect on Domestic Violence
Source: Brady United Against Gun Violence
Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women, more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.
Source: new-hope.org
Access to a firearm makes it 5X more likely a woman will be killed by her abusive male partner.
Source: Battered Women’s Justice Project
Its Place in Accidents & Unintended Loss
At least once a week, a toddler fires a gun, killing or injuring himself/herself or others.
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association
An emergency room somewhere in the U.S treats at least one firearm injury every 30 minutes.
Source: The Trace, a nonprofit news organization
Its Cultural & Financial Impact
Four in 10 Americans believe it’s at least somewhat likely they’ll be a victim of gun violence in the next five years.
Source: The Trace, a nonprofit news organization
Americans own 450 million firearms or 40% of the entire world’s civilian firearms.
Source: Everytown for Gun Safety
Every gun homicide costs American taxpayers an average $709,985 from government expenses on medical and mental health care as well as police investigations and criminal justice expenses.
\Source: Everytown for Gun Safety
Gun violence costs the U.S. economy at least $557 billion a year.
Source: Everytown for Gun Safety
What Can Be Done?
Universal background checks of those who buy firearms as well as ammunition.
Expanded adoption of Emergency Protection Order (ERPOS), also known as red flag laws. They allow law enforcement to seek a court order temporarily removing firearms from people at risk of harming themselves or others.
Secure firearm storage.
And in conversations with friends and family, choose the facts most meaningful to you that underscore the urgency of solving the public health crisis of gun violence.