Libertarian Leanings

Accidental Shooting Statistics

A Review of Unintentional Firearm Deaths from 1979-2024

by Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

The pro-gun community has put a lot of time and effort into preventing accidental shootings in America. Unlike other firearm-related incidents, accidental shootings are a category that the pro-gun community has notably influenced over the years.

Despite sensationalized headlines and ongoing advocacy for new legislation, it’s crucial to recognize that accidental shootings are exceedingly rare occurrences. Even in households with unsecured firearms and children, such tragedies are infrequent.

However, it’s essential to acknowledge that these accidents are entirely preventable. The following sections delve into various aspects of accidental shootings in the United States.

Key Points:

• In 2022, less than 1% (461) of the 48,222 firearm deaths in the U.S. were attributed to accidental shootings.

• 2.3% of the 30,303 unintentional firearm-related injuries were fatal in 2021.

• Of the 231,878 firearm-related offenses reported to the FBI in 2022, only 721 were accidental shootings (0.3%).

• There is no correlation between permitless carry and accidental shootings; only four of the five top states for accidental shootings and all five of the bottom states have permitless carry.

• Only 0.2% of all accidental injury-related deaths in the U.S. can be attributed to firearms.

Note: 30,303 injuries include any hospital visit involving a firearm injury.

Accidental Gunshots Per Year

In total, 673 individuals in the U.S. were victims of an accidental shooting in 2022. Accidental shootings occur in 0.001% of all American households with a firearm annually.

Contrary to claims by Everytown and Giffords, simply owning a firearm does not significantly elevate the risk of danger. In reality, the likelihood of dying from other causes such as fire, drowning, poisoning, falls, or motor vehicle accidents far exceeds that of accidental firearm-related deaths.

Gun Laws and Accidental Shootings

Whenever a tragedy occurs, the anti-gun lobby, media, and many politicians exploit it. Despite an estimated 113,000,000 firearm owners in America, the 673 accidental shooting deaths have spurred discussions about new legislation.

Examining states with existing legislation like safe storage laws and concerns about permitless carry provides insights into the impact of such laws on accidental shootings.

Safe Storage Laws

With limited safe storage legislation in the U.S., accidental shooting deaths declined by 40% between 1999 and 2023. This decline underscores the effectiveness of firearm safety initiatives primarily driven by the pro-2A community.

As of 2024, 26 states have safe storage laws. For instance, in Texas, it constitutes a prosecutable offense if a child gains access to an unsecured firearm. Notably, Texas recorded 61 accidental shooting deaths among individuals aged 1-17 between 2018 and 2023.

Expanding this data reveals that 30% of all accidental firearm-related deaths in this age group occurred in states with existing safe storage laws, whereas nine states without such laws had no accidental shootings involving children during the same period.

Permitless Carry

Another contentious issue for the anti-gun lobby is permitless carry legislation. However, such legislation does not ease firearm access; rather, it allows lawful individuals to carry firearms without a permit.

Analyzing data from states before and after enacting permitless carry laws reveals no significant correlation with unintentional shootings. For instance:

Indiana, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, which passed permitless carry between 2019 and 2021, had accidental shooting deaths, while the other four states (Iowa, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming) that enacted permitless carry had none.

In Indiana, there was no notable change in accidental shooting deaths after passing permitless carry in 2021.

Kentucky and Oklahoma also did not experience significant fluctuations in accidental shooting deaths following the implementation of permitless carry laws.

Ultimately, permitless carry legislation neither exacerbates nor alleviates accidental shooting incidents. Firearm safety is primarily an individual responsibility that cannot be regulated effectively.

Accidental Shootings: The Full Picture

Though 2.3% of accidental shootings are fatal, only 0.0001% of all firearms in the U.S. are involved in such incidents, affecting just 0.05% of all households with firearms.

Understanding the causes of accidental shootings is crucial. Regardless of firearm ownership or Second Amendment stance, familiarizing oneself and one's family with firearm safety principles is imperative.

Common causes of accidental shootings include:

Further analysis reveals that a significant portion of unintentional firearm deaths result from mishandling firearms or hunting-related accidents.

From 2005 to 2015, research indicates that 28.3% of unintentional firearm deaths happened when individuals were handling firearms casually. Additionally, 17.2% of deaths resulted from not confirming the firearm was unloaded, while 13.8% of victims were engaged in hunting-related incidents. [Unintentional Firearm Deaths in the United States: 2005-2015]

Accidental Gunshot Deaths and Adolescents

Individuals aged 14 to 30 face the highest risk of accidental shooting deaths. In 2021, 46 small children (aged two to four) and 71 teens and young adults succumbed to unintentional gunshot wounds.

Although accidental firearm-related deaths in the <1-17 age group are relatively low compared to other accidents, they remain preventable. Vigilant gun owners and parents play a crucial role in mitigating such incidents.

Prevention And Safety Measures

Accidents often occur due to carelessness. While some states have safe storage laws, accidental shootings involving minors and adults still happen.

Hence, it's vital to maintain constant vigilance over firearms. While access to defense firearms should be unrestricted for adults, precautions should be taken to prevent access by children or unauthorized individuals.

Individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol or those incapable of handling firearms should refrain from doing so. Moreover, hunters must adhere to safety protocols such as knowing their targets and the surrounding environment.

Effectiveness Of Educational Programs

Although the effectiveness of educational programs on accidental shootings warrants further research, increasing education alone may not be enough.

A study found that a majority of teachers support firearm safety education in schools, indicating a potential avenue for disseminating such knowledge.

Study results:

• 62% approved of education in schools overall
• 13% disapproved of firearm safety courses in schools
• 25% had no opinion
• 28.4% of teachers approved of firearm safety for students in Pre-K and 1st grade
• 54% of teachers indicated that military personnel or police should teach the courses
• 6.9% of teachers responding approve of teachers educating students on gun safety

Accidental Shootings vs. Other Accidental Causes

Unintentional falls rank as the most common accident across all age groups in the U.S., followed by incidents categorized as "Struck by or Against" and motor vehicle accidents.

Accidental firearm-related injuries do not feature in the top ten causes of all accidents in the U.S.

In 2021, firearms accounted for only 0.2% of all accidental deaths, with poisoning and falls constituting the leading causes.

The Run-Down on Accidental Shootings

While any firearm-related injury or death is tragic, accidental shootings are rare and entirely preventable.

Legislation alone is insufficient to prevent accidental shootings; proactive firearm safety measures are crucial. Understanding firearm safety principles and identifying high-risk individuals are essential steps in reducing firearm-related deaths in America.

It’s crucial for individual gun owners and parents to take necessary precautions to minimize the likelihood of accidental shootings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the most common causes of accidental shootings?

The most common cause of accidental shootings is mishandling a firearm.

What are the most effective ways to prevent accidental gun shootings?

The most effective way to prevent accidental shootings is to follow the ten rules of gun safety and ensure that firearms are inaccessible to prohibited or uneducated individuals.

How do gun safety laws impact accidental shooting statistics?

States with no gun safety legislation take the majority in the top five and bottom five states for unintentional firearm-related deaths.

Sources

• 2005-2015 Study on Accidental Shooting Deaths
• 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act
• 2010 Survey on Gun Safety Courses in Schools
• CDC WISQARS Accidental Injuries
• CDC Wonder
• NHTSA Motorcyle Fatalities 2021
• Gun Storage Laws by State

Tax-Grabbing Nebraska Politicians Taught a Lesson by Sound Money Supporters

By Jp Cortez, Sound Money Defense League

(Lincoln, Nebraska) - In a powerful display of grassroots pressure, Nebraska politicians beat a hasty retreat this week after attempting a brazen tax grab that would have reimposed sales taxes on purchases of gold and silver in the Cornhusker State.

The Sound Money Defense League and Money Metals Exchange, alongside a coalition of concerned citizens, in-state dealers, and pro- sound money State Senator Ben Hansen, successfully thwarted this misguided effort, proving that Nebraskans will not stand for attacks on their financial freedoms—especially during a time of rampant inflation. 

Legislative Bill 1 (LB 1) had sought to eliminate a longstanding sales tax exemption on precious metals and thereby align Nebraska with fringe pro-tax states like Vermont and Hawaii.

The overwhelming trend nationwide has been to eliminate this tax, with only five states still fully taxing gold and silver purchases.

If passed, these provisions within LB 1 would also have reversed the Nebraska’s recent progress in promoting sound money principles.  That’s because Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed LB 1317 only four months ago, removing capital gains taxes on gold and silver.

Just as exchanging a dollar for four quarters is a non-taxable event, so too should the exchange of Federal Reserve Notes for the only forms of money explicitly mentioned in the U.S. Constitution—gold and silver—be free from taxation.

Purchases of precious metals are not being consumed -- they are held for resale as investments. Precious metals are held as protection against inflation, financial turmoil, and the devaluation of fiat currency.

Sen. Hansen said, “Nebraskans should not be taxed on purchases of constitutional money. This misguided effort to increase the tax base would harm residents of our state looking to protect their wealth with money that has preserved its value for thousands of years.”

The notion of sales taxes on these transactions is not only inappropriate but also discriminatory, as other financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, and real estate are not subject to this sort of tax.

Moreover, the abortive sales tax grab would have placed Nebraska businesses at a severe disadvantage. With every single neighboring state—South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming—exempting gold and silver from sales taxes, many Nebraskans would have simply taken their business elsewhere, depriving the state of actual taxable economic activity and, ironically, the tax revenue the bill sought to generate.

Nebraska’s attempt to reimpose this tax mirrors past mistakes made by other states—mistakes they were quick to correct. In 2021, Ohio repealed its sales tax exemption on precious metals, only to face immediate backlash.

The Ohio repeal hurt in-state businesses, reduced tourism dollars, and harmed Ohio investors who sought to protect their wealth against inflation. Recognizing this damage, the Ohio legislature passed legislation to reinstate the exemption the following year.

Louisiana faced a similar situation in 2016 when it briefly imposed sales taxes on precious metals. The result was a rapid decline in business activity, with coin conventions and other events leaving the state, leading to a decrease in state revenue until Louisiana lawmakers quickly reversed course.

Alabama, Utah, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Louisiana, and Kentucky have already passed legislation in 2024 ending sales and capital gains taxes on precious metals, declaring that Central Bank Digital Currencies are not valid money in their state, reaffirming the metals as legal tender, or empowering state treasurers to invest state funds in gold and silver.

Urban Violent Crime & Legal Gun Ownership:

A Story of Geographical Assault in the U.S.

By Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

Crime in America is concentrated in only 0.5% of counties, which is home to only 0.8% of the nation’s population - yet these counties account for 25% of the nation’s homicides.

How can it be that the entire nation’s homicide rate is consistently disproportionately higher in only a few counties?

We examined violence trends in a handful of the most dangerous cities and counties in the United States.

Report Highlights:

• 1% of U.S. counties accounted for nearly 35% of all homicides in 2022.

• In 2022, urban areas with over 1 million people accounted for the most murders, totaling 11,729.

• Urban areas with over 1 million people have a per capita homicide rate of 11.6 per 100,000, whereas suburban areas of the same size have a rate of only 4 per 100,000.

• In the top 15 high-homicide-rate counties, there are only 12 police officers per square mile, despite densities of over 2,000 people per square mile. Safer areas have about 2 officers per square mile, serving populations of fewer than 200 people per square mile.

• Rural areas, with only 10% of all homicides, have a firearm ownership rate of 46%.

• Tighter gun control doesn't necessarily lead to safer communities; the most dangerous U.S. counties have differing levels of gun regulation, ranging from lax to strict.

For this article, we reference data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey and a 2021 publication in the American Journal of Public Health. We’ve included a comprehensive list of our sources here.

Geographically Concentrated Violent Crimes

Of the nation’s 3,124 counties, only 15 contribute to nearly a quarter of all homicides. Furthermore, these counties top the lists for violent crime and homicide year after year. If we expand this a little further, 42% of all homicides occurred in only 50 counties (25% of the nation’s entire population).

Notably, counties with more people will have more crimes and homicides. However, not all urban areas tend to have a crime and homicide problem.

Counties with large cities (more than 1,000,000 people) comprise all but one of the top most violent counties. On the other hand, several fringe metros (counties with more than 1,000,000) have very low violent crime and homicide rates.

The disparities between highly populated areas and crime, homicide, and gun laws show us that there is more to urban crime than simply population size.

For example, Cook County, IL, consistently tops all other areas for homicides. Moreover, the county that’s home to Chicago has an excess of homicides for its population size. While Illinois has a homicide rate of 11.7 per 100,000 people, Cook County contributes 71% of those homicides to the state.

If we remove Cook County (Chicago), Illinois’ homicide rate drops to only 5.7 per 100,000 people. Furthermore, counties close to Cook County have lower homicide rates than their population sizes would predict.

We see this same pattern with the other top counties for homicides.

In Baltimore, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Memphis, the homicide rates are higher than models predict, while surrounding areas are incredibly peaceful. If we remove only those areas from the state’s homicide reports, the entire state’s homicide rate will decrease drastically.

Looking at per capita firearm-homicide rates, Cook County, IL; Wayne County, MI; and Philadelphia County, PA, far surpass several other counties with larger populations, San Diego, CA, and Harris County, TX, for example.

So, the next logical area of research is, other than population size, why do those specific counties have so many problems with violence?

Putting It All Together

We now know that population size alone doesn’t determine criminality. We have to look into other factors that make Cook County and Philadelphia County more violent than, say Fairfax County, VA, or Middlesex County, MA.

We looked into factors such as education, poverty, single-parent households, and policing to better understand the most violent urban areas in the U.S.

While poverty and other factors were common across the board, we did notice disparities in policing, clearance rates (number of homicides solved), poverty, race, and street gangs.

Policing & Violent Crime/Homicide Rates

When Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood has a violent crime rate 701% higher than the national average and only 12 full-time officers per square mile, there simply aren’t enough police officers to handle the sheer number of criminals in the area.

At the local level, DAs, mayors, and police departments serve as the front line to combat violent crime. An environment that nurtures crime is one where people resort to violence out of fear, too few police officers, and soft-on-crime policies. This seems to be the case with many dangerous neighborhoods in America.

In the top 15 counties with the highest homicide rates, there is a notable scarcity of police officers per square mile when considering both homicide rates and population density. These areas typically have 12 police officers for every square mile, despite having over 2,000 people per square mile. In contrast, safer regions with lower homicide rates have a higher ratio of police officers, approximately 2 officers per square mile, serving populations of less than 200 people per square mile.

The most dangerous areas have an average population density of 2,447 people per square mile, whereas there’s an average of only 156 per square mile in all other areas. They also have more crime and too few police officers to combat it.

Essentially, the most violent counties in America have an average of 12 police officers per square mile, while the safer ones have only two officers per square mile. However, when residents have a 1 in 39 chance (or higher) of being victimized by a criminal, 12 police officers aren’t enough to protect, investigate, and catch repeat criminals.

Solving Homicides in Violent Urban Areas

The fifteen most violent counties in America have a clearance rate 21% lower than all other areas with homicides.

We’re starting to see a pattern - fewer police officers mean fewer crimes solved and more criminals committing more crimes.

Furthermore, urban centers have higher rates of gang membership, which further compounds the problem. Not only do gang members who go uncaught continue to commit crimes, but gang leaders continue to lead and convert more people to criminal lifestyles.

Poverty

Another distinct pattern we see in the most violent counties is poverty. Households with individuals under 18 years of age have 20% higher rates of food assistance, 30% higher rates of single-parent homes, and 31% higher rates of households living below the poverty line, as opposed to other counties.

Therefore, the most violent counties in America do show some relation between poverty and crime rates. However, poverty is not a key factor in criminality. There are plenty of examples where high poverty rates are not associated with high crime rates - for example, impoverished coal mining towns in Appalachia.

When you put more people in smaller spaces with limited resources, crime may become more prevalent. While policing and catching criminals can keep the crime rates low, the most violent counties are letting criminals run rampant in impoverished areas, further exacerbating violent crime and homicides.

Race

In a sobering, startling, and upsetting revelation, we pulled a report filtering race, county, and per capita homicide rates using the CDC Wonder and discovered that the top 110 counties with those filters were all black victims.

We would be doing a disservice to Americans most at risk for homicides if we did not address race in our research. While it is a sensitive subject for many, we will not save a single life by ignoring the data and facts about racial disparities and homicide in the U.S.

Although race does not factor into whether one will commit murder or violent crimes, black and Hispanic individuals living in urban areas are at a higher risk of being a homicide victim than other demographics.

In the most dangerous cities in America, black and Hispanic Americans are murdered at disproportionately higher rates than other races and ethnicities.

This pattern continues—we continue to see disproportionately higher homicide victim rates among black and Hispanic individuals in urban centers that remain high on the list of homicides.

*Note: It’s important to remember that these are homicide victims and not crime stats based on race.

Gang Membership and Urban Violence

Gang membership data hasn’t been available since the 1990s and early 2000s. However, we can assess reports dating back to 2012 and see that of 2,500 law enforcement agencies report 1% gang membership in large metropolitan areas and .4% total gang membership in medium metro areas. These two metropolitan statistical areas have the highest concentration of the nation’s homicides.

While this data doesn’t immediately stand out among all population sizes, it becomes more apparent when we break this down by age. Individuals between the ages of 14 to 24 are most likely to partake in gang activities and also comprise the highest homicide rates.

In fact, the excess number of homicides in the most dangerous counties is two times higher among gang-aged individuals.

Gang prevalence is higher in the most violent U.S. counties. This may account for the racial disparities in homicide victims among the two most at-risk groups, Hispanic and black Americans.

Combining the Variables

Policing and clearance rates have a consistent correlation with violent crime.

Twelve police officers per square mile in an area with more than 7,000 violent crimes per 100,000 leads to low clearance rates. Clearance rates have been reported as low as 53% in some of these violent counties. When nearly half of the criminals in your city get away with crimes, they will continue to offend and even encourage others to join them.

After considering policing and clearance rates, the correlation between poverty and violent crime becomes slightly more apparent. While poverty is an issue nationwide, there is a moderate correlation between single-parent households and those receiving cash assistance in the nation’s most dangerous counties.

There are exceptions; while policing tends to be a common factor in high-crime populations, New York County often appears near the top of the list and has six times the number of full-time officers as the other top counties.

These variables tend to be consistent in counties with more homicides and are not as prevalent in those with fewer homicides.

Culture and Legislation

As with everything in nature, extremes can only be neutralized by extremes. Let’s look at the reactions of local leaders as they relate to the area’s crime rates.

For example, Chicago, IL, consistently has homicide victims every weekend, and local leaders simply respond with, “We need to do better.” On the contrary, Polk County, FL, is much safer, and local leaders respond in kind, “If you kick my door in, in the middle of the night, I will kill you graveyard dead.”

As we saw in the early 1990s, violent crime, and homicide rates plummeted with tough-on-crime policies and leaders willing to stand behind them. In 2018, defunding the police rhetoric and soft-on-crime policies became prevalent in the most dangerous counties.

Ultimately, culture and legislation aren’t the leading causes of high homicide and crime rates, but these factors do tend to be prevalent among the most dangerous areas. Local politicians' unwillingness to directly address criminality and soft-on-crime policies rooted in sympathy for criminals will logically allow crime to take over.

Urban Violent Crimes & Correlations

Criminality will never have a one-size-fits-all answer. We can only analyze the data to identify correlations or different patterns between populations and the different variables that may lead to violent crime. Unfortunately, the counties that consistently rank at the top for violent crime year after year have yet to find a solution to this ongoing problem.

Sources

• Neighborhood Racial and Economic Segregation and Disparities in Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Criminal Neglect
• Violent Crime in the U.S. (FBI)
• Crime Rates
• 2016 BJS Report
• Violent Crime Victimizations 2021
• BJS Violent Offenses By Demographic
• NCVS Violent Crime Report
• Bureau of Justice Statistics - Criminal Victimization, 2022
• Cities with the highest murder rates per capita
• Alaska Crime Rates
• Single-Parent Homes Urban Crime
• Criminality in Cities (FBI)
• Total Reported Crime by Precinct
• Population by City

Milton Friedman and Phil Donahue

Phil Donahue died today at the age of 88.

I never get tired of watching one of Milton Friedman’s greatest Donahue moments: pic.twitter.com/DqiWnPyIr8

— Good Morning Liberty (@GoodAMLiberty) August 19, 2024

Gun Violence Statistics 2024: A Comprehensive Look at the Data

By Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

America has more civilian-owned guns per capita than any other country in the world. However, only 0.0084% of the country's estimated 500,000,000 firearms are used to end a human life.

"Gun violence" is a broadly defined term that encompasses the relationship between firearms and death, crime, or injuries. Unfortunately, this vague terminology can divert conversations from concrete data and hinder the development of effective solutions.

This report will highlight the increasing issues related to gun violence and provide a clearer understanding of the term.

Report Highlights:

• In the first four months of 2024, there were 5,847 firearm-related homicides, unintentional shooting deaths, and defensive use cases resulting in death, as reported by the Gun Violence Archive.

• Before May 2024, there were 10,674 firearm-related injuries reported by the Gun Violence Archive, which gathers data from 7,000 newspaper publications.

• Homicide rates in the United States dropped by 21% from 2022 to 2023, with firearm-related homicides decreasing by 25% during the same period, returning firearm-related homicide rates to pre-2020 levels at 4.7 per 100,000 people.

• Nationally, there was a 16% decrease in the total number of firearm-related deaths in 2023, with firearm-related suicides declining by 13% and firearm-related homicides dropping by 20%.

All data in this article is collected from various reputable sources. Our sources are listed here.

Defining Gun Violence

The term "gun violence" is controversial and often misunderstood. Before we delve into the statistics, let's clarify how this term is used and what the public needs to know about gun-related deaths and injuries in the U.S.

Many Americans associate gun violence with a general threat. However, the media and politicians often use the term more broadly to refer to any incident involving a firearm.

For example, suicides are included in gun violence statistics, even though they pose no direct threat to others. Some reports also include cases of brandishing, which can be subjective and may involve situations where no real threat is present.

To provide a clearer picture, let's break down firearm-related deaths and injuries in 2023:

• 58% of firearm-related deaths were suicides
• 38% were homicides
• 3% involved police shootings, accidental shootings, or were undetermined

In the following sections, we will use specific terms to accurately describe the intent behind firearm-related incidents, helping our readers better understand the impact of firearms on injuries and deaths.

[Graphic Source: 2]

Gun Violence Statistics in 2024

According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, there were 5,847 firearm-related homicides, unintentional shooting deaths, and defensive use cases resulting in death in the first four months of 2024. Additionally, this source, which gathers information from 7,000 newspaper publications, reported 10,674 firearm-related injuries before May 2024. (Source 1)

Examining shooting incidents in early 2024 can help identify future trends when compared to previous years. For instance, if the Gun Violence Archive's data is accurate, the 5,847 firearm-related deaths between January and April 2024 represent a significant decrease.

In contrast, the first four months of 2018 saw over 13,000 firearm-related deaths, with this number increasing to a peak of 15,572 deaths by April 2022.

Furthermore, after a sharp rise in firearm-related deaths during 2020 and 2021, the numbers have started to trend downward.

Gun Violence and Gun Ownership Statistics

Wyoming has more firearms per capita than any other state, with 245.8 per 1,000 people. In 2023, Wyoming had 107 firearm-related deaths, of which 89% were suicides and 9% were homicides.

In contrast, New Jersey has the fewest firearms per capita, with 1.1 per 1,000 people, yet 337 people died from gun-related incidents in 2023. Only 31% of these deaths were suicides, highlighting a stark difference from Wyoming.

Thus, by the definition of gun violence, New Jersey, with fewer firearms, experiences more gun violence.

The United States experienced 40,627 firearm-related deaths in 2023. Of these, 59% were suicides, 38% were homicides, and 3% were due to legal intervention, unintentional shootings, and undetermined causes.

Examining gun-related deaths further reveals that states with higher gun ownership have a lower percentage of firearm-related homicides. Conversely, states with fewer guns have a higher proportion of homicides in their gun death totals.

For instance, only 16.7% of Maryland residents own firearms, yet 80% of the state's gun deaths are homicides. On the other hand, 65.7% of Montana residents own firearms, and only 19.3% of gun deaths are homicides.

Regarding suicides, higher gun ownership states tend to have a greater proportion of firearm-related suicides within their total gun deaths, although gun ownership does not directly influence overall suicide rates.

Ultimately, the data indicates that firearm ownership does not necessarily lead to more gun violence, homicides, or suicides. Instead, it suggests that the availability of firearms may influence the method of suicide but not the overall suicide rates.

[Graphic Source: 2]

Gun Violence Deaths by Year in the U.S.

Homicide rates in the United States dropped by 21% from 2022 to 2023, with firearm-related homicides decreasing by 25% during the same period. As a result, firearm-related homicide rates returned to pre-2020 levels at 4.7 per 100,000 people.

Nationally, there was a 16% decrease in the total number of firearm-related deaths. Firearm-related suicides declined by 13%, while firearm-related homicides dropped by 20%. In 2023, 78% of all homicides were committed with a firearm, compared to 79% in 2022.

Despite 56 consecutive months of over 1,000,000 firearm sales in the U.S., gun violence appears to be returning to lower levels.

Non-Fatal Gun Violence in the U.S.

In 2021, 1,958,273 individuals visited an emergency room for an injury related to violence. According to the FBI NIBRS, in 2022, 231,878 of the 815,580 violent crimes reported involved a firearm. (Source 5)

Tracking firearm-related injuries from violence is challenging. For example, the CDC WISQARS compiles data on the number of ER visits but doesn’t specify the nature of the injuries. The FBI UCR collects crime report data, but not all incidents involving firearms are classified as violent.

A study estimates the average number of non-fatal firearm-related emergency room visits to be 84,581 incidents per year from 2010 to 2015 (Source 3). However, in 2020, the number of ER visits for firearm-related injuries increased by 37%, while other injury-related visits decreased. This trend continued with a 36% increase in 2021, but firearm-related ER visits declined by 20% in 2022. (Source 4)

Similar to homicide rates, firearm-related injuries and violent crimes increased during the pandemic but have declined since 2022. Despite millions of gun sales, the passage of permitless carry legislation in several states, and soft-on-crime policies, the threat of non-fatal gun violence has been trending downward as of 2023.

[Graphic Source: 5]

Gun Violence by Demographics

While race does not cause gun violence, there is a significant correlation between the race of victims and higher rates of gun violence. For example, Black Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans are 70% more likely to be victims of gun violence than other demographics. (Source 2)

Gun violence, particularly assaults with firearms, is a complex issue influenced by various factors, including inner-city violence, reduced policing, lower incarceration rates, and soft-on-crime policies.

In 2022, Black Americans were killed with guns at a rate of 20 per 100,000. For Hispanics, the rate was 4.4 per 100,000, and for Native Americans, it was 4.3 per 100,000. In contrast, Asian and White Americans had rates of 0.9 and 1.6 per 100,000, respectively.

The pattern changes only slightly when excluding firearms: White Americans were killed at a rate of 0.8 per 100,000, Hispanics at 1.4 per 100,000, Native Americans at 4.5 per 100,000, and Black Americans at 3.4 per 100,000.

The reasons why Black Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanic Americans are more likely to be victims of gun violence are not fully understood, but the data clearly shows severe racial disparities in violence-related victimhood in the United States.

[Graphic Source: 2]

Trends and Decline: Navigating the Fluctuations of Gun Violence in 2024

"Gun violence" is a polarizing term because it often includes incidents where no individual was threatened or harmed. Nonetheless, the fluctuation of gun violence statistics remains a concern for many Americans.

Gun violence rates increased in the 1960s, peaked in the 1980s, decreased in the 1990s, and rose again during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, gun violence statistics in 2024 indicate that this problem is now declining.

Sources

1. Gun Violence Archive: 2024
2. CDC Wonder Provisional Mortality Statistics
3. A Cross-Sectional Study of Firearm-Related Injuries in Emergency Department Patients
4. Emergency Department Visits for Firearm Injuries Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 2019–December 2022
5. 10 Leading Causes of Nonfatal Emergency Department Visits, United States

America’s Stolen Guns: A Silent Contributor to Gun Crimes in the U.S. (2024)

By Cassandra McBride, Ammo.com

The issue of guns in America mainly arises from stolen firearms, as it's uncommon for lawful gun owners to commit crimes. However, in America, being a victim of gun theft is unique because victims are often blamed for making themselves vulnerable to criminals.

Key Points:

• 1,074,022 firearms were reported stolen in the U.S. between 2017 and 2021, which equates to an average of 200,000 per year.

• There were more guns stolen in 2017 than in 2021, despite an increase in gun sales nationwide in 2021.

• 85.9% of those possessing a firearm, when they committed their crimes, purchased or obtained the firearm from somewhere other than a licensed dealer.

• Firearm-related homicides are largely related to socioeconomic disadvantages and poor upbringings.

The data provided offers a thorough understanding of stolen guns in the U.S. and suggests ways to enhance crime prevention through sensible measures. For a detailed list of our sources, please refer to the comprehensive list provided here.

Understanding Stolen Guns in America

Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 1,074,022 firearms were reported stolen in the U.S., averaging around 200,000 annually. However, these figures are estimates, as criminals typically do not report their illicit activities to law enforcement agencies for research purposes.

While this number seems exceptionally high, the truth is that less than a fraction (only 0.042%) of civilian-owned firearms in the United States are stolen each year. Therefore, it is safe to say that the vast majority of gun owners are, in fact, taking precautions to ensure thieves do not acquire their property.

Stolen guns in America are used in a significantly higher number of crimes than legally purchased firearms. However, many stolen guns are never used in crimes.

Diagnosing firearm theft is challenging due to reporting issues. However, according to an Everytown study based on FBI data that is no longer available, firearm theft from vehicles began surpassing firearm thefts from burglaries in 2014, years before many states passed open carry legislation.

When a thief takes a firearm from an unsuspecting victim, it becomes nearly impossible to track until it is recovered after a crime or when police recover it during a traffic stop.

Here are the things you need to know about stolen guns in America:

[Citations: ATF Firearm Thefts Report 2021/Everytown]

Stolen Guns Used in Crimes

Only 10% of stolen guns are used in crimes annually, but 43.2% of criminals who used a firearm in the commission of a crime purchased it from an underground dealer. Furthermore, 20% of inmates who committed a crime with a firearm reportedly obtained a firearm solely for the purpose of committing a crime.

Despite rhetoric about gun shows, firearms purchased from gun shows are the least likely to be used in crimes (0.8%), and those purchased from an FFL dealer by the offender are used in only 1.3% of crimes.

In total, 85.9% of those in possession of a firearm, when they committed their crimes, purchased or obtained the firearm from somewhere other than a licensed dealer. Combined with what we already know about stolen guns, it’s safe to say that thieves are contributing to gun-related crimes in America. [Citation: Source and Use of Firearms in Crimes: Survey of Prison Inmates in 2016]

Contrary to some assumptions, the rate of legal firearm owners, state and federal legislation, and the number of legal guns do not increase homicide rates. However, there is a clear correlation between the prevalence of stolen guns and increased homicide rates.

A 2021 study assessed possible correlations between the number of FFL dealers, big box stores that sell firearms, poverty, race, policing, and disadvantaged individuals with homicide rates to better understand the relationship between guns and crime.

The study showed that the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of illegal firearm availability was higher than the legal firearm rate availability in high gun crime areas. Furthermore, areas with more disadvantaged individuals also had higher rates of gun-related crimes.

Therefore, stolen guns and socioeconomic disadvantages create an environment that fosters gun crime victimizations despite stringent legislative restrictions and legal firearm availability.

Guns & Socioeconomic Disadvantages

According to a 2021 study, 87% of 330 individuals aged 16-24 in disadvantaged neighborhoods have carried firearms. 82% stated that they carry because it makes them feel powerful, 77% cited personal safety, and 26% stated they felt respected because they had a firearm.

Now that we know the correlation between high-crime areas and illegal gun availability, we must explore the market for illegal firearms in these areas.

The majority of gun owners in this study (63%) stated they first obtained a firearm between the ages of 14 and 17 years old. The top sources for these firearms were friends, family members, and gang members, according to the study.

While this doesn’t tell us exactly how many guns were stolen, it does show us the market for firearms in high-crime neighborhoods where they’re less likely to be obtained legally.

Inner-city youth who feel unsafe, are exposed to gangs, and are influenced by pro-gun culture have fewer opportunities to protect themselves and obtain firearms legally. Therefore, it stands to reason these areas create an opportunity for gun thieves to profit.

Stolen Guns Risk Factors

In April of 2024, two teenagers were caught pulling on car door handles in the middle of the night in Chattanooga, Tennessee. One of the sixteen-year-old boys was wearing body armor and possessed a stolen gun. This story is common in the small urban city. In fact, Chattanooga, Tennessee, has had more guns stolen from vehicles per capita than nearly any other city in the United States in recent years.

Despite curfews, Ring cameras, and policing, the epidemic of stolen guns from vehicles has exploded in recent years. So, what’s going on?

Many claims assume that stolen guns are uniquely a weak gun law problem or a gun ownership problem. However, when we expand the issue across all fifty states, gun laws, and ownership rates don’t show a consistent correlation when you look at the number of stolen guns in an area.

We do however notice a correlation between low clearance rates and gun theft.

For example, Chattanooga, TN, Memphis, TN, and Columbia, SC, comprise the top three cities for stolen guns from vehicles. These cities also have lower clearance rates than other cities with fewer stolen guns.

[Citations: Everytown/FBI UCR]

Stolen Guns in America

Criminals are far more likely to purchase a stolen firearm from an unauthorized dealer than they are to steal one themselves. Therefore, it stands to reason that there’s a market for stolen guns, and many thieves are taking advantage of that.

While areas with many legal guns tend to have lower crime rates, inner-city areas with higher rates of crime tend to create a profitable market for stolen guns. When individuals feel unsafe in an area and have no means to protect themselves lawfully, they may resort to illegal and stolen guns for protection.

The stolen gun issue is further compounded by low clearance rates and too few officers to combat growing crime problems in urban areas.

Sources

• Clearance Rate Data
• BJS Report on Source of Guns Used in Crimes 2016
• Everytown Study on Stolen Guns
• ATF Analysis of Stolen Guns
• 2021 Study on Guns in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
• Illegal Firearm Availability 2021

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