Firearm Deaths

Firearm Deaths  in United States

United States

In the United States, gun violence continues to be a significant public health issue. In 2020, firearms were involved in 79% of all homicides, a 35% increase from the previous year. This firearm homicide spike impacted a variety of communities across the country, in both rural and urban areas. Firearm deaths disproportionately affect poor communities. Between 2019 and 2020, counties with higher poverty levels experienced greater increases in and higher overall rates of both homicides and suicides due to firearms. In 2020, 53% of all U.S. suicide deaths involved firearms, despite making up less than 10% of all suicide attempts. 

Compared to other causes of death, firearm deaths pose a larger burden for society in terms of years of potential life lost. In 2020, firearm deaths accounted for more than 1.1 million years of potential life lost. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic may have compounded existing social and economic stressors, increasing the risk of homicide and suicide, particularly among racial and ethnic minority communities.

The firearm death rate is higher among: 

• Males compared with females.
• Individuals ages 25-34 and 15-24 compared with older age groups.
• Black and American Indian/Alaska Native adults compared with Asian and multiracial adults.
• Counties with the highest level of poverty compared with counties with less poverty.

Firearm deaths are preventable, and there is a lot that can be done at the individual, community, and policy levels to reduce the firearm death rate.

Community- and state-level initiatives are key. Communities can offer resources and support to help resolve conflicts before they escalate to gun violence and partner with public health and public safety agencies to examine local trends in gun violence and generate solutions. State-level policy recommendations include strengthening firearm legislation, particularly background check and permit laws.

Improving access to mental health resources can help prevent suicide. Examples include medical interventions, support groups, effective clinical care for mental disorders and family and community support. In 2022, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was launched to provide an easy-to-remember number and 24/7 confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources, by call, text or online chat. The previous National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number (1-800-273-TALK(8255)) is also active and can still be used

Healthy People 2030 has several violence prevention objectives related to firearms, including: 

• Reducing firearm-related deaths. 
• Reducing gun carrying among adolescents. 
• Reducing nonfatal physical assault injuries. 
• Reducing nonfatal firearm-related injuries. 

Davis, Ari, Lisa Geller, Rose Kim, Silvia Villarreal, Alexander McCourt, Janel Cubbage, and Cassandra Crifasi. 2022. “A Year in Review: 2020 Gun Deaths in the U.S.” Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/sites/default/files/2022-05/2020-gun-deaths-in-the-us-4-28-2022-b.pdf.

Kegler, Scott R., Thomas R. Simon, Marissa L. Zwald, May S. Chen, James A. Mercy, Christopher M. Jones, Melissa C. Mercado-Crespo, et al. 2022. “Vital Signs?: Changes in Firearm Homicide and Suicide Rates — United States, 2019–2020.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 71 (19). https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7119e1.

Lee, Lois K., Eric W. Fleegler, Caitlin Farrell, Elorm Avakame, Saranya Srinivasan, David Hemenway, and Michael C. Monuteaux. 2017. “Firearm Laws and Firearm Homicides: A Systematic Review.” JAMA Internal Medicine 177 (1): 106. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.7051.