Topic Focus

Gun Violence Awareness: Facts, Trends, and Help

If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support in the U.S., call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you’re outside the U.S., find local help via iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres.


🧡 Gun Violence Awareness Month (June)

Purpose 

Gun Violence Awareness Month is observed every June in the United States to:

  • Raise awareness of firearm-related deaths and injuries
  • Honor victims and survivors
  • Promote prevention strategies and safe firearm practices
  • Support the “Wear Orange” movement

It aligns with the broader campaign:

  • National Gun Violence Awareness Day
  • “Wear Orange” weekend (symbol of remembrance and solidarity)

👶 Youth impact 

  • Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. (CDC-based reporting widely cited in public health data and Surgeon General advisory summaries)
  • Disproportionate impact on urban youth and communities of color

📉 Trends (what’s changing over time)

📊 Long-term trend (decades)

  • Gun deaths peaked historically in the 1970s (per capita rates)
  • Recent years show:
    • 📈 Sharp increase in 2020–2021
    • 📉 Slight decline in 2022–2024
    • Still among the highest totals in modern U.S. history


🔁 Pattern shift

  • Gun suicides rising long-term
  • Gun homicides fluctuating more sharply year-to-year
  • Overall trend remains elevated compared to early 2000s

Across the U.S. overall:

  • ~60%+ of firearm deaths are suicides
  • ~30–40% are homicides
  • remainder: accidents, legal intervention, unknown

👉 This means the state map reflects both violence and mental health burden, not just crime.

📊 U.S. Gun Death Rates by State (2024)

🔴 Highest-rate states (top tier)

These states consistently have the highest firearm death rates:

  • Mississippi (28.0)
  • New Mexico (26.6)
  • Alaska (24.4)
  • Alabama (23.7)
  • Wyoming (23.4)

👉 These rates are roughly 6–7× higher than the lowest states.

🟡 Mid-range states

Large portion of the U.S. falls here (10–18 per 100k):

  • Texas (13.9)
  • Florida (12.7)
  • Illinois (12.4)
  • Pennsylvania (11.9)
  • Washington (11.0)

👉 This is “national average territory,” where most population-heavy states sit.

🟢 Lowest-rate states

These consistently have the lowest firearm mortality:

  • Hawaii (3.7)
  • Massachusetts (3.8)
  • New Jersey (4.0)
  • New York (4.4)
  • Rhode Island (4.6)

👉 These states cluster in the Northeast + Hawaii, and are about 5–8× lower than the highest states.