States with the highest rate of gun-related fatalities

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock When it comes to gun-related deaths in the United States, 2020 was unfortunately a banner year, recording the highest number of gun-related deaths ever in a single year, driven by a surge in firearm-related homicides. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent findings, overall firearm-related deaths rose 15% over 2019 numbers to reach more than 45,000 nationwide, while firearm-related homicides went up 35%. In terms of the national rate of gun deaths based on population, per-capita numbers actually decreased (13.6 deaths per 100,000 people) from their historical peak (16.3 per 100,000) set in 1974, largely due to the rise in the overall population–more than 100 million since the 1980 census. Nonetheless, both the number of gun-related homicides and suicides reached levels not seen since the early 1990s. Investigating firearm-related deaths also helps highlight public health crises, particularly as related to suicide. Suicides accounted for a substantial portion (54%) of gun-related fatalities in 2020. States with fewer gun laws tallied more than double the number of suicides by firearm as states with relatively stricter access to guns. Since most suicides involve firearms, addressing suicide as an epidemic will necessitate a closer look at firearm access. Stacker cited data from the CDC to look at the rate of gun-related fatalities in every state. Five-year averages between 2017 and 2021 are used and fatalities are broken down by firearm assault and intentional self-harm using a firearm. Additional categories classified by CDC Wonder include incidents involving law enforcement, unintentional discharge, and undetermined intent. Deaths from operations of war and terrorism involving firearms are not included in overall calculations. You may also like: From Stonewall to today: 50+ years of modern LGBTQ+ history #50. Massachusetts Matthew Moloney // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 3.7 deaths per 100K (1,282 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 1.5 deaths per 100K (531 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 2.1 deaths per 100K (712 deaths) #49. Hawaii Dragan Mujan // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 4.0 deaths per 100K (281 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: Five-year average not available – Gun-related suicide rate: 2.4 deaths per 100K (174 deaths) #48. Rhode Island Tupungato // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 4.6 deaths per 100K (246 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 1.6 deaths per 100K (84 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 2.9 deaths per 100K (155 deaths) #47. New York Dpongvit // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 15.7 deaths per 100K (2,290 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 4.6 deaths per 100K (664 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 10.7 deaths per 100K (1,558 deaths) #19. Indiana Aaron Yoder // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 15.9 deaths per 100K (5,361 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 6.2 deaths per 100K (2,103 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 9.1 deaths per 100K (3,066 deaths) #18. Idaho Virrage Images // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 16.2 deaths per 100K (1,459 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 1.4 deaths per 100K (130 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 14.0 deaths per 100K (1,256 deaths) #17. Arizona Mark Skalny // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 16.7 deaths per 100K (6,047 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 4.7 deaths per 100K (1,694 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 11.4 deaths per 100K (4,112 deaths) #16. Georgia VDB Photos // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 17.1 deaths per 100K (9,095 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 7.4 deaths per 100K (3,921 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 9.2 deaths per 100K (4,904 deaths) You may also like: 50 terms with origins in rural America #15. Nevada Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 17.7 deaths per 100K (2,728 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 5.0 deaths per 100K (776 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 11.9 deaths per 100K (1,835 deaths) #14. Kentucky JNix // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 18.0 deaths per 100K (4,023 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 6.0 deaths per 100K (1,341 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 11.1 deaths per 100K (2,476 deaths) #13. West Virginia Bjoern Wylezich // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 18.2 deaths per 100K (1,635 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 4.3 deaths per 100K (384 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 13.0 deaths per 100K (1,167 deaths) #12. Oklahoma Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 18.9 deaths per 100K (3,745 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 6.0 deaths per 100K (1,185 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 12.5 deaths per 100K (2,466 deaths) #11. South Carolina J.J. Gouin // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 19.7 deaths per 100K (5,067 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 8.8 deaths per 100K (2,250 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 10.4 deaths per 100K (2,667 deaths) You may also like: How background checks on popular dating apps and websites work #10. Tennessee Mont592 // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 19.9 deaths per 100K (6,786 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 8.2 deaths per 100K (2,811 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 10.9 deaths per 100K (3,728 deaths) #9. Arkansas Matt Gush // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 20.8 deaths per 100K (3,137 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 7.7 deaths per 100K (1,157 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 12.1 deaths per 100K (1,833 deaths) #8. Montana Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 21.6 deaths per 100K (1,157 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 2.4 deaths per 100K (128 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 18.1 deaths per 100K (973 deaths) #7. Missouri Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 21.9 deaths per 100K (6,710 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 9.6 deaths per 100K (2,949 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 11.6 deaths per 100K (3,559 deaths) #6. New Mexico Underawesternsky // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 22.5 deaths per 100K (2,360 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 7.4 deaths per 100K (774 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 13.7 deaths per 100K (1,434 deaths) You may also like: What kind of data is your car collecting about you? #5. Alabama Sean Pavone // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 23.2 deaths per 100K (5,720 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 10.9 deaths per 100K (2,674 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 11.5 deaths per 100K (2,833 deaths) #4. Wyoming Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 23.4 deaths per 100K (679 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: Five-year average not available – Gun-related suicide rate: 20.2 deaths per 100K (586 deaths) #3. Louisiana Dr. Victor Wong // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 23.7 deaths per 100K (5,509 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 13.4 deaths per 100K (3,124 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 9.6 deaths per 100K (2,226 deaths) #2. Alaska Marc Cappelletti // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 23.7 deaths per 100K (871 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 5.2 deaths per 100K (192 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 16.8 deaths per 100K (618 deaths) #1. Mississippi ARTFULLY PHOTOGRAPHER // Shutterstock – Gun-related death rate, 2017-21: 25.6 deaths per 100K (3,803 deaths) – Gun-related homicide rate: 13.9 deaths per 100K (2,063 deaths) – Gun-related suicide rate: 10.3 deaths per 100K (1,527 deaths) You may also like: America’s ambitious bet on wildlife crossings