Updated 6.14.22
Memorial Day typically kicks off a period of increased gun violence across the nation and this year was no exception. Between May 28 and June 12, 296 people have been injured and 956 have lost their lives to gun violence across the country, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The US has also seen 51 mass shooting incidents.
Here’s a breakdown of how this year looks compared to 2021:
- 2022 has seen an average of 1.6 mass shootings per day—2021 had 1.9 per day.
- If we keep up that pace, we’re on track for 597 mass shootings this year—that’s a 14% DECREASE year over year.
- As of May 17, we were on track for a 21% decrease compared to 2021, so the pace has quickened.
- In 2021, there were 693 mass shootings in the US; the highest ever on record.
As horrible as these numbers are, we’ve seen some decreases in overall gun-related deaths in the last six years. The Gun Violence Archive reported over 50,000 annual gun-related deaths each year for 2016, 2017, and 2018. In 2019, that number dropped 27% to just over 39,500.
Unfortunately, numbers climbed again in 2020 (43,671 deaths) and 2021 (45,005 deaths). This year, 16,212 people have lost their lives in a gun-related incident, putting us on track for a total of around 43,500 by year’s end. We are cautiously optimistic that gun violence incidents and deaths could both see declines in 2022, but every tragic event weighs heavy.
We hope none of you were impacted by these recent events, but our annual State of Safety survey shows that at least 12% of all Americans were personally affected by gun violence in 2021—up from 10% in 2020. Our thoughts are with you and anyone impacted by gun violence, and we’ll be sharing more resources and insights as we gather them.
Original article posted 4.15.22
Concern about gun violence and mass shootings increased by 39% year over year. Guns, in general, have been showing up in survey respondents’ open answers since our first survey.
Some people rely on firearms as a form of protection, others are afraid of ongoing reports about mass shootings and other gun incidents in the news, and some are worried about gun rights being threatened.
What stood out in our survey this year was the number of people who told us they regularly hear gunshots in their neighborhood. People also reported more gun incidents closer to where they live.
Of all comments that mentioned guns or gun violence, 9 out of 10 expressed anxiety or fear.
Personal experience with a gun violence incident rose 14% year over year, and nearly 4 in 10 Americans are worried about a gun violence incident happening to them.
- The states that have seen the most mass shooting incidents this year are Illinois with 20, California and Texas with 18 each, and Louisiana with 15 incidents—as of May 27.
- When it comes to concern about gun violence, New York, Georgia, and California are the most worried states.
- The states that reported the most personal experience with gun violence in 2020 are Alabama (19%), New York (18%), and Ohio (17%).
- Nationwide, 8% of survey respondents reported a personal experience with gun violence in the past 12 months.
Many Americans look to guns to protect themselves, their families, and their property. But we were surprised to find that more people use a firearm for personal protection than to keep their property safe.