11 facts about gun violence in the United States

11 Cards

EDITED BY Dylan Matthews

2015-10-01 14:39:00 -0400

  1. There's roughly one gun for every person in America
  2. Gun crime is more prevalent in the US than in other rich countries
  3. Gun homicides (like all homicides) are declining
  4. Places with more guns have more homicides
  5. There are more gun suicides than gun homicides in America
  6. Suicide is more common in places with more guns
  7. Living in a house with a gun increases your odds of death
  8. Guns contribute to domestic violence
  9. Mass shootings represent a tiny share of all shooting deaths
  10. A tiny fraction of gun violence is committed by the mentally ill
  11. Gun control is popular, but less so than in the 1990s

  1. Card 1 of 11

    There's roughly one gun for every person in America

  2. Card 2 of 11

    Gun crime is more prevalent in the US than in other rich countries

  3. Card 3 of 11

    Gun homicides (like all homicides) are declining

  4. Card 4 of 11

    Places with more guns have more homicides

  5. Card 5 of 11

    There are more gun suicides than gun homicides in America

    Gun homicides get far more attention in the popular press, but most gun deaths are the result of suicide. In 2013, the last year for which the CDC provides numbers, 21,175 people committed suicide by firearm, while 11,208 people died in gun homicides. Historical data shows it's been this way for a while:

    gun suicide gun homicide

    (CDC / WISQARS)

    In total, 33,636 people died of firearm injuries in 2013. A relatively small number (505) of those were due to accidental firings. Another 281 resulted from discharges of "undetermined intent," and 467 resulted from "legal intervention/war."

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  6. Card 6 of 11

    Suicide is more common in places with more guns

  7. Card 7 of 11

    Living in a house with a gun increases your odds of death

  8. Card 8 of 11

    Guns contribute to domestic violence

  9. Card 9 of 11

    Mass shootings represent a tiny share of all shooting deaths

  10. Card 10 of 11

    A tiny fraction of gun violence is committed by the mentally ill

  11. Card 11 of 11

    Gun control is popular, but less so than in the 1990s