Firearm Deaths - Women in United States

United States

Firearm violence continues to be a public health issue in the United States. The U.S. has a significantly higher rate of firearm deaths than other high-income countries — 91.7% of women killed by firearms in the world are in the U.S. 

Firearm deaths among women in the U.S. increased 71% between 2010 and 2021. One study found that more than half of all female homicides are related to intimate partner violence. The leading cause of death in pregnant women is firearm homicide, even when compared with rates of hemorrhage and eclampsia. According to a 2025 study, pregnant women experience a firearm homicide rate 37% higher than women who are not pregnant. 

Research indicates that women who experienced a mass shooting in their county during pregnancy are more prone to giving birth to premature babies and babies with extremely low birth weight.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the firearm death rate is higher among: 

• Women ages 20-34 compared with those ages 35-44.
• Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women compared with Asian women. Firearm deaths are 9.9 times higher among Black women compared with Asian women.

It is safest not to keep any guns in the home, but gun owners can still take steps to improve household gun safety. For example: 

• Ensure that all firearms inside the house are unloaded and stored securely.
• Keep all lock combinations, codes and storage keys appropriately hidden, especially from children.
• Never leave children unsupervised in a home with a gun.

Preventing intimate partner violence, which contributes significantly to firearm deaths among women, is also necessary. Strategies to prevent intimate partner violence include: 

• Teaching social-emotional, conflict management and communication skills to youth and families. 
• Employing early childhood interventions to reduce risk factors associated with partner violence later in life, such as child abuse or neglect, and to promote positive parenting skills and family dynamics.
• Improving financial security for low-income families. 
• Increasing support services for survivors such as victim-centered advocacy, health care services, housing programs and legal protections. 

Community violence intervention programs offer conflict resolution, mental health and social support services targeted at the specific needs of a local community. These can be most effective when partnered with local government agencies that can expand their resources and reach. State-level policy recommendations include strengthening firearms legislation, particularly background check and permit laws. 

Improving access to mental health resources can also help prevent suicide. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support for people in distress 24/7, everywhere in the U.S. Their website offers additional forms of crisis support, and the previous National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number (1-800-273-TALK(8255)) is still active and will connect you with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Healthy People 2030 has several violence prevention objectives related to firearms, including reducing firearm-related deaths and reducing nonfatal firearm-related injuries.

Davis, Ari, Rose Kim, and Cassandra Crifasi. U.S. Gun Violence in 2021: An Accounting of a Public Health Crisis. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, 2023. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/sites/default/files/2024-01/2023-june-cgvs-u-s-gun-violence-in-2021-v3.pdf. 

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Niolon, Phyllis Holditch, Megan Kearns, Jenny Dills, Kirsten Rambo, Shalon Irving, Theresa L. Armstead, and Leah Gilbert. Intimate Partner Violence Prevention: Resource for Action. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/violence-prevention/media/pdf/resources-for-action/IPV-Prevention-Resource_508.pdf.

Rees, Chris A., Michael C. Monuteaux, Isabella Steidley, Rebekah Mannix, Lois K. Lee, Jefferson T. Barrett, and Eric W. Fleegler. “Trends and Disparities in Firearm Fatalities in the United States, 1990-2021.” JAMA Network Open 5, no. 11 (November 29, 2022): e2244221. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.44221.

Tobin-Tyler, Elizabeth. “Intimate Partner Violence, Firearm Injuries and Homicides: A Health Justice Approach to Two Intersecting Public Health Crises.” Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 51, no. 1 (2023): 64–76. https://doi.org/10.1017/jme.2023.41.

Websdale, Neil, Kathleen Ferraro, and Steven D. Barger. “The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Clearinghouse: Introduction to a New National Data System with a Focus on Firearms.” Injury Epidemiology 6, no. 1 (December 2019): 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-019-0182-2.