Statistics on Gun Violence

A significant percentage of mass shootings, between 94 to 97%, occur in gun-free zones, highlighting a critical gap in gun policy discussions. Firearms serve a defensive purpose far more frequently than they are used to commit homicide, with estimates ranging from 500,000 to three million defensive uses annually, contrasted with 10,000 to 20,000 annual homicides. When analyzing gun violence statistics, it is notable that removing certain demographics from consideration could show lower rates of gun violence in the U.S. compared to countries like Finland and Sweden; this disparity largely arises from gang-related violence. Furthermore, individuals are statistically more likely to face fatal accidents at home—such as drowning in bathtubs, car accidents, or choking—than being shot. This emphasis on selective statistics often leads to policy proposals that overlook the complexities of gun violence, such as arbitrary restrictions on firearm features or mandatory buybacks, which could effectively function as bans.