In 2023, an estimated 42,967 people died in the United States from gun-related injuries, according to the Gun Violence Archive. This non-profit organization tracks gun violence deaths and their causes in the United States. Gun crime rates differ from state to state, and the figures can often be influenced by political leaning. We take a look at the firearm fatalities per state and note their voting record:
Mississippi (Republican)
Mississippi consistently ranks among the top states in the US for gun-related deaths, including firearm fatalities. The state has a firearm fatality rate of 28.6 deaths per 100,000 people and a 54.1% firearm ownership rate among residents.
Louisiana (Republican)
Louisiana has the second-highest firearm fatality rate in the United States, with 29.1 deaths per 100,000 people. Homicides account for a significant portion of Louisiana’s firearm deaths, with a rate that’s higher than the national average.
Wyoming (Republican)
Wyoming ranks third among the top states in firearm fatality rates, with 26.3 deaths per 100,000 people. It also boasts the % firearm ownership rate within this group, at 60.7%.
Missouri (Republican)
Missouri’s firearm fatality rate is 23.9 deaths per 100,000 residents. This rate positions it among the states with higher firearm fatality rates in the US. The state also has a firearm ownership rate of 52.8%.
Alabama (Republican)
Arkansas has a firearm fatality rate of 23.6 deaths per 100,000 residents. This rate positions it among the Republican states with higher rates nationally. The state also has a firearm ownership rate of 52.8%.
Alaska (Republican)
Alaska has a firearm fatality rate of 23.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, placing it among the states with the highest rates nationally. Suicides are the leading cause of firearm deaths in Alaska, accounting for around 69% of all firearm fatalities.
New Mexico (Democrat)
New Mexico has a firearm fatality rate of 22.7 deaths per 100,000 residents. The state has a firearm ownership rate of 35.9%, and, like many states, suicides account for a significant portion of firearm deaths in New Mexico.
Arkansas (Republican)
Arkansas has a firearm fatality rate of 22.6 deaths per 100,000 residents. This rate positions it among the states with higher firearm fatality rates nationally. The Republican state has a firearm ownership rate of 51.8%.
South Carolina (Republican)
South Carolina has a firearm fatality rate of 22 deaths per 100,000 residents. This rate is higher than the national average, which is around 13.9 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Tennessee (Republican)
Tennessee has a firearm fatality rate of 21.3 fatalities per 100,000 residents. The Volunteer State is primarily Republican and has a firearm ownership rate of 46.9%.
Montana (Republican)
Montana has a firearm fatality rate of 20.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, placing it among the states with higher rates nationally. The state also has the highest firearm ownership rate in the US, at 65.7%.
Oklahoma (Republican)
Oklahoma has a firearm fatality rate of 20.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, placing it among the states with higher rates nationally. The Republican state also has a high firearms ownership rate of 54.9%.
Kentucky (Republican)
Kentucky has a firearm fatality rate of 20.1 deaths per 100,000 residents. This rate places it among the states with higher firearm fatality rates nationally, as is its 52.5% rate of firearm ownership.
West Virginia (Republican)
West Virginia’s firearm fatality rate is 18.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, and gun ownership stands at 60.6%. While the overall rate is significant, it’s important to note that suicides and homicides make up different proportions of this fatality rate.
Georgia (Swing)
In Georgia, a swing state, 37.7% of residents own firearms, with a firearm fatality rate of 17.7 per 100,000 people.
Idaho (Republican)
Idaho, a primarily Republican state, boasts a firearm ownership rate of 57.8%, with a firearm fatality rate of 17.6 per 100,000 residents.
Indiana (Republican)
Indiana, a Republican state, has a firearm ownership rate of 42.4%, with a firearm fatality rate of 17.3 per 100,000 residents.
Nevada (Democrat)
The Silver State, Nevada, a swing state with a firearm ownership rate of 32.9%, has a firearm fatality rate of 17.0 per 100,000 residents.
Kansas (Republican)
Kansas nicknamed the Sunflower State and a Republican-leaning state, has a firearm ownership rate of 42.3%, with a firearm fatality rate of 16.9 per 100,000 residents.
Arizona (Swing)
Arizona, a swing state with a firearm ownership rate of 36.4%, also has a firearm fatality rate of 16.7 per 100,000 residents.
North Carolina (Swing)
North Carolina, a swing state with a firearm ownership rate of 37.1%, has a firearm fatality rate of 16.0 per 100,000 residents.
Colorado (Democrat)
With a firearm ownership rate of 37.9%, Colorado, a primarily Democratic state, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 15.4 per 100,000 residents.
Ohio (Swing)
Ohio has a firearm ownership rate of 41.9%. Ohio, a swing state, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 15.2 per 100,000 residents.
Michigan (Swing)
A swing state with a firearm ownership rate of 38.9%, Michigan experiences a firearm fatality rate of 14.6 per 100,000 residents.
Delaware (Democrat)
Delaware, a Democratic state with a firearm ownership rate of 38.7%, has a firearm fatality rate of 14.4 per 100,000 residents.
Texas (Republican)
With a firearm ownership rate of 35.5%, Texas, a primarily Republican state, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 14.2 per 100,000 residents.
Illinois (Democrat)
Illinois, a Democratic state with a firearm ownership rate of 22.6%, has a firearm fatality rate of 14.1 per 100,000 residents.
North Dakota (Republican)
North Dakota, a primarily Republican state with a firearm ownership rate of 53.3%, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 13.8 per 100,000 residents.
Florida (Swing)
Florida, a swing state with a firearm ownership rate of 28.8%, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 13.7 per 100,000 residents.
Pennsylvania (Swing)
Pennsylvania has a firearm fatality rate of 13.6 per 100,000 residents, the first of three states with this number. The Keystone State is a swing state and has a firearm ownership rate of 40.2%.
South Dakota (Republican)
South Dakota, a Republican state, has a firearm ownership rate of 55.6% and a fatality rate of 13.6 per 100,000 residents.
Utah (Republican)
Utah, a primarily Republican state, has a firearm ownership rate of 39.7% and a firearm fatality rate of 13.6 per 100,000 residents.
Maryland (Democrat)
Maryland’s firearm mortality rate in the past year was 15.4 deaths per 100,000 residents. The state’s firearm ownership sits at 16.7% in the Democratic state.
Virginia (Swing)
Virginia, a primarily Democratic state with a firearm ownership rate of 35.3%, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 13.4 deaths per 100,000 residents. Males and people aged 15-24 years experienced the highest burden of firearm injuries across various categories.
Oregon (Democrat)
Oregon, a Democratic state with a firearm ownership rate of 41.4%, has a firearm fatality rate of 13.0 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Wisconsin (Swing)
Wisconsin, a swing state with a firearm ownership rate of 47.1%, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 12.2 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Vermont (Democrat)
Vermont, a Democratic state with a firearm ownership rate of 50.3%, has a firearm fatality rate of 11.6 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Iowa (Swing)
With a firearm ownership rate of 38.5%, Iowa, a primarily Republican state, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 11.2 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Washington (Democrat)
Washington, a Democratic state with a firearm ownership rate of 32.1%, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 10.9 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Maine (Swing)
The Pine Tree State, primarily Democrat and with a firearm ownership rate of 47.7%, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 10.4 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Nebraska (Republican)
Nebraska, a Republican state with a firearm ownership rate of 39.2%, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 10.1 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Minnesota (Democrat)
Minnesota, a swing state with a firearm ownership rate of 39.1%, has a firearm fatality rate of 8.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, ranking among the lowest in the nation.
New Hampshire (Democrat)
Sharing Minnesota’s low firearm fatality rate of 8.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, New Hampshire, a Democratic state, has a firearm ownership rate of 46.3%.
California (Democrat)
California, a primarily Democratic state with a firearm ownership rate of 16.3%, experiences a firearm fatality rate of 8.5 deaths per 100,000 residents, ranking among the lowest in the nation.
Connecticut (Democrat)
Connecticut, a Democratic state with a firearm ownership rate of 18.8%, experienced a firearm fatality rate of 6.0 deaths per 100,000 residents.
New York (Democrat)
New York, a primarily Democratic state with a firearm ownership rate of 18.8%, boasts one of the nation’s lowest firearm fatality rates, at 5.3 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Rhode Island (Democrat)
Rhode Island, a Democrat-leaning state with a firearm ownership rate of 13.9%, has one of the nation’s lowest firearm fatality rates, at 5.1 deaths per 100,000 residents.
New Jersey (Democrat)
New Jersey, a predominantly Democratic state with a firearm ownership rate of 8.9%, enjoys one of the nation’s lowest firearm fatality rates, at 5.0 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Massachusetts (Democrat)
Massachusetts, a Democratic-leaning state with a firearm ownership rate of 9.9%, boasts the nation’s lowest firearm fatality rate, at 3.7 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Hawaii (Democrat)
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