Introduction
Gun violence is the cause of tens of thousands of deaths every year in the United States. In 2018, there were 38,390 deaths by firearms according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; of that, 24,432 were the result of suicide.
Since the 1980s, several firearm-related laws have been enacted in an attempt to curb gun deaths, including the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (which included the so-called “assault weapons ban”). However, the Supreme Court has overturned various federal and state gun control laws, such as in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago.
Much of the debate around gun violence revolves around gun control. Proponents of gun control argue that more laws that restrict firearm purchasing and ownership would decrease the number of guns in circulation and reduce gun-related homicides. However, gun rights proponents argue that criminals are statistically most likely to commit these crimes and would not be deterred by such laws.
Learn for yourself how the gun death rate changes by state by scrolling through the data in the charts.
| # | State | Gun Deaths | Number of Homicides | Homicide Rate | Gun Death Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 4,164 | 2,993 | 10.3 per 100k | 14.2 per 100k |
| 2 | California | 3,449 | 3,498 | 8.8 per 100k | 8.5 per 100k |
| 3 | Florida | 3,041 | 2,087 | 9.7 per 100k | 13.7 per 100k |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,897 | 834 | 7.8 per 100k | 17.7 per 100k |
| 5 | Ohio | 1,764 | 1,089 | 9.2 per 100k | 15.2 per 100k |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 1,752 | 433 | 3.3 per 100k | 13.6 per 100k |
| 7 | Illinois | 1,745 | 1,137 | 8.9 per 100k | 14.1 per 100k |
| 8 | North Carolina | 1,699 | 1,192 | 11.4 per 100k | 16 per 100k |
| 9 | Tennessee | 1,473 | 970 | 14 per 100k | 21.3 per 100k |
| 10 | Michigan | 1,454 | 1,067 | 10.6 per 100k | 14.6 per 100k |
| 11 | Missouri | 1,426 | 1,108 | 18 per 100k | 23.9 per 100k |
| 12 | Arizona | 1,265 | 805 | 11.3 per 100k | 16.7 per 100k |
| 13 | Louisiana | 1,183 | 1,065 | 22.9 per 100k | 26.3 per 100k |
| 14 | Virginia | 1,174 | 863 | 10 per 100k | 13.4 per 100k |
| 15 | Indiana | 1,159 | 656 | 9.7 per 100k | 17.3 per 100k |
| 16 | Alabama | 1,141 | 325 | 6.5 per 100k | 23.6 per 100k |
| 17 | South Carolina | 1,131 | 891 | 17.4 per 100k | 22 per 100k |
| 18 | New York | 1,052 | 1,087 | 5.4 per 100k | 5.3 per 100k |
| 19 | Colorado | 922 | 488 | 8.5 per 100k | 15.4 per 100k |
| 20 | Kentucky | 902 | 464 | 10.3 per 100k | 20.1 per 100k |
| 21 | Washington | 864 | 472 | 6.1 per 100k | 10.9 per 100k |
| 22 | Oklahoma | 826 | 471 | 11.9 per 100k | 20.7 per 100k |
| 23 | Mississippi | 818 | 350 | 11.8 per 100k | 28.6 per 100k |
| 24 | Maryland | 803 | 738 | 11.9 per 100k | 13.5 per 100k |
| 25 | Wisconsin | 717 | 499 | 8.5 per 100k | 12.2 per 100k |
| 26 | Arkansas | 673 | 484 | 16.1 per 100k | 22.6 per 100k |
| 27 | Oregon | 592 | 188 | 4.4 per 100k | 13 per 100k |
| 28 | Nevada | 547 | 308 | 9.9 per 100k | 17 per 100k |
| 29 | Minnesota | 513 | 323 | 5.7 per 100k | 8.9 per 100k |
| 30 | Kansas | 494 | 143 | 4.9 per 100k | 16.9 per 100k |
| 31 | New Mexico | 479 | 193 | 9.1 per 100k | 22.7 per 100k |
| 32 | New Jersey | 443 | 497 | 5.4 per 100k | 5 per 100k |
| 33 | Utah | 429 | 147 | 4.5 per 100k | 13.6 per 100k |
| 34 | Iowa | 351 | 172 | 5.4 per 100k | 11.2 per 100k |
| 35 | West Virginia | 325 | 162 | 9 per 100k | 18.1 per 100k |
| 36 | Idaho | 321 | 68 | 3.7 per 100k | 17.6 per 100k |
| 37 | Massachusetts | 268 | 230 | 3.3 per 100k | 3.7 per 100k |
| 38 | Montana | 238 | 96 | 8.9 per 100k | 20.9 per 100k |
| 39 | Connecticut | 219 | 220 | 6.1 per 100k | 6 per 100k |
| 40 | Nebraska | 197 | 127 | 6.5 per 100k | 10.1 per 100k |
| 41 | Alaska | 175 | 90 | 12.3 per 100k | 23.5 per 100k |
| 42 | Wyoming | 154 | 27 | 4.7 per 100k | 25.9 per 100k |
| 43 | Maine | 153 | 39 | 2.9 per 100k | 10.4 per 100k |
| 44 | Delaware | 135 | 98 | 9.9 per 100k | 14.4 per 100k |
| 45 | New Hampshire | 128 | 20 | 1.5 per 100k | 8.9 per 100k |
| 46 | South Dakota | 120 | 62 | 7 per 100k | 13.6 per 100k |
| 47 | North Dakota | 100 | 59 | 7.6 per 100k | 13.8 per 100k |
| 48 | Vermont | 76 | 24 | 3.7 per 100k | 11.6 per 100k |
| 49 | Rhode Island | 54 | 46 | 4.2 per 100k | 5.1 per 100k |
| 50 | Hawaii | 50 | 65 | 4.5 per 100k | 3.4 per 100k |
Gun Deaths by State
Alabama
Gun Deaths
1,141
Ranked in the US
#16
Ranked in the US
#28
6.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#32
23.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#5
Alaska
Gun Deaths
175
Ranked in the US
#41
Ranked in the US
#42
12.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#7
23.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#6
Arizona
Gun Deaths
1,265
Ranked in the US
#12
Ranked in the US
#15
11.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#12
16.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#20
Arkansas
Gun Deaths
673
Ranked in the US
#26
Ranked in the US
#21
16.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#5
22.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#8
California
Gun Deaths
3,449
Ranked in the US
#2
3,498
Ranked in the US
#1
8.8 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#26
8.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#44
Colorado
Gun Deaths
922
Ranked in the US
#19
Ranked in the US
#20
8.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#27
15.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#22
Connecticut
Gun Deaths
219
Ranked in the US
#39
Ranked in the US
#32
6.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#34
6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#45
Delaware
Gun Deaths
135
Ranked in the US
#44
Ranked in the US
#40
9.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#17
14.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#25
Florida
Gun Deaths
3,041
Ranked in the US
#3
2,087
Ranked in the US
#3
9.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#19
13.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#29
Georgia
Gun Deaths
1,897
Ranked in the US
#4
Ranked in the US
#14
7.8 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#29
17.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#15
Hawaii
Gun Deaths
50
Ranked in the US
#50
Ranked in the US
#44
4.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#42
3.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#50
Idaho
Gun Deaths
321
Ranked in the US
#36
Ranked in the US
#43
3.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#46
17.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#16
Illinois
Gun Deaths
1,745
Ranked in the US
#7
1,137
Ranked in the US
#5
8.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#24
14.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#27
Indiana
Gun Deaths
1,159
Ranked in the US
#15
Ranked in the US
#17
9.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#20
17.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#17
Iowa
Gun Deaths
351
Ranked in the US
#34
Ranked in the US
#35
5.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#37
11.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#38
Kansas
Gun Deaths
494
Ranked in the US
#30
Ranked in the US
#38
4.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#40
16.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#19
Kentucky
Gun Deaths
902
Ranked in the US
#20
Ranked in the US
#24
10.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#14
20.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#13
Louisiana
Gun Deaths
1,183
Ranked in the US
#13
1,065
Ranked in the US
#10
22.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#2
26.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#2
Maine
Gun Deaths
153
Ranked in the US
#43
Ranked in the US
#48
2.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#50
10.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#40
Maryland
Gun Deaths
803
Ranked in the US
#24
Ranked in the US
#16
11.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#8
13.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#33
Massachusetts
Gun Deaths
268
Ranked in the US
#37
Ranked in the US
#31
3.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#48
3.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#49
Michigan
Gun Deaths
1,454
Ranked in the US
#10
1,067
Ranked in the US
#9
10.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#13
14.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#24
Minnesota
Gun Deaths
513
Ranked in the US
#29
Ranked in the US
#29
5.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#36
8.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#42
Mississippi
Gun Deaths
818
Ranked in the US
#23
Ranked in the US
#26
11.8 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#10
28.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#1
Missouri
Gun Deaths
1,426
Ranked in the US
#11
1,108
Ranked in the US
#6
18 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#3
23.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#4
Montana
Gun Deaths
238
Ranked in the US
#38
Ranked in the US
#41
8.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#25
20.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#11
Nebraska
Gun Deaths
197
Ranked in the US
#40
Ranked in the US
#39
6.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#33
10.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#41
Nevada
Gun Deaths
547
Ranked in the US
#28
Ranked in the US
#30
9.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#18
17 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#18
New Hampshire
Gun Deaths
128
Ranked in the US
#45
Ranked in the US
#51
1.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#51
8.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#43
New Jersey
Gun Deaths
443
Ranked in the US
#32
Ranked in the US
#19
5.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#38
5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#48
New Mexico
Gun Deaths
479
Ranked in the US
#31
Ranked in the US
#33
9.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#22
22.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#7
New York
Gun Deaths
1,052
Ranked in the US
#18
1,087
Ranked in the US
#8
5.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#39
5.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#46
North Carolina
Gun Deaths
1,699
Ranked in the US
#8
1,192
Ranked in the US
#4
11.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#11
16 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#21
North Dakota
Gun Deaths
100
Ranked in the US
#47
Ranked in the US
#46
7.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#30
13.8 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#28
Ohio
Gun Deaths
1,764
Ranked in the US
#5
1,089
Ranked in the US
#7
9.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#21
15.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#23
Oklahoma
Gun Deaths
826
Ranked in the US
#22
Ranked in the US
#23
11.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#9
20.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#12
Oregon
Gun Deaths
592
Ranked in the US
#27
Ranked in the US
#34
4.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#44
13 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#35
Pennsylvania
Gun Deaths
1,752
Ranked in the US
#6
Ranked in the US
#25
3.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#49
13.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#30
Rhode Island
Gun Deaths
54
Ranked in the US
#49
Ranked in the US
#47
4.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#45
5.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#47
South Carolina
Gun Deaths
1,131
Ranked in the US
#17
Ranked in the US
#12
17.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#4
22 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#9
South Dakota
Gun Deaths
120
Ranked in the US
#46
Ranked in the US
#45
7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#31
13.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#31
Tennessee
Gun Deaths
1,473
Ranked in the US
#9
Ranked in the US
#11
14 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#6
21.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#10
Texas
Gun Deaths
4,164
Ranked in the US
#1
2,993
Ranked in the US
#2
10.3 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#15
14.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#26
Utah
Gun Deaths
429
Ranked in the US
#33
Ranked in the US
#37
4.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#43
13.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#32
Vermont
Gun Deaths
76
Ranked in the US
#48
Ranked in the US
#50
3.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#47
11.6 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#37
Virginia
Gun Deaths
1,174
Ranked in the US
#14
Ranked in the US
#13
10 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#16
13.4 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#34
Washington
Gun Deaths
864
Ranked in the US
#21
Ranked in the US
#22
6.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#35
10.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#39
West Virginia
Gun Deaths
325
Ranked in the US
#35
Ranked in the US
#36
9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#23
18.1 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#14
Wisconsin
Gun Deaths
717
Ranked in the US
#25
Ranked in the US
#18
8.5 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#28
12.2 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#36
Wyoming
Gun Deaths
154
Ranked in the US
#42
Ranked in the US
#49
4.7 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#41
25.9 per 100k
Ranked in the US
#3