Gun Violence: A Public Health Crisis

Gun violence in America is a public health crisis. Gun violence and mass shooting incidents continue to climb, leaving many to wonder if they are safe. Many Americans are asking for responsible gun control laws. They want to feel safe in social, religious, and other gathering places.

Gun Violence in America

Gun violence in the United States isn’t uncommon. The Brady United website states, “99.85% of Americans will know a victim of gun violence.” Several types of gun violence occur in the United States including:

Suicides
Domestic shootings
Shootings linked to interpersonal interactions, gangs or crime
Unintentional shootings
Police-involved incidents
Mass shootings

Gun violence, whether intentional or unintentional, is adversely affecting the mental and physical health of Americans. Data on the causes of gun violence point some to socioeconomic stressors, mental health, or substance use issues.

Mass Shootings

Mass shooting rates have increased since 1983. The Violence Project Data reports that 33 of the mass shootings occurred during 2018-2022. In comparison, there were 25 massacres between 2013 and 2017. In 2023, by October 26^th, there were 565 mass shootings.

COVID-19 and Gun Violence

There was a surge in gun sales at the beginning of the COVID-19 social isolation regulations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Crime Information Center (NCIC) reported background checks on March 16, 2020, increased by 300% compared to the same day in 2019. According to the Pew Research Center, 48,830 people died in 2021 because of gun violence. This number increased by a 23% rise in incidents in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. During COVID-19’s social isolation regulations, there was an increase in firearm homicide and suicide rates. The rates increased disproportionately for adolescents, males, and Black people.

An alarming trend in gun-related deaths that began during the COVID-19 pandemic is the rise in fatalities in children and adolescents under the age of 18. Gun death rates among these populations rose 50% between the years 2019 and 2021.

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Gun Violence by the Numbers

The United States ranks among the top countries in the world for gun ownership and gun-related violence. The Institute For Health Metrics and Evaluation published a study that found:

Age-adjusted rates for gun-related murder rates in the United States are 33 times greater than in Australia and 77 times greater than in Germany.
Gun violence is responsible for more than 8% of deaths in America among those under 20.
Among 65 high-income territories, the United States ranks seventh out of 65 for gun-related homicides.
The United States ranks number one in rates of gun-related homicides among high-income countries with populations over 10 million.

Gun Violence and Paralysis

Researchers know gun violence-related injuries are the leading cause of death among children and teens. However, there are more than twice as many survivors of gun violence injuries. A study published by Health Affairs details how researchers tried to find the number of non-fatal injuries by using insurance claims.

While the study helped begin the research into injuries related to firearm violence, researchers couldn’t discover the types of injuries sustained. The researchers and public health officials hope their study will lead to further studies.

Public Health and Gun Violence

The American Public Health Association (APHA) has declared gun violence a public health issue. The organization recognizes the complexity of gun violence because gun ownership is rooted in the American culture. The APHA encourages local, state, and federal governments to use a public health approach to develop gun control and safety laws. The APHA states, “A public health approach to preventing gun violence recognizes that violence is contagious and can become epidemic within a society.”

Gun violence may lessen if proper gun control and safety measures are enacted. You can visit the APHA’s website to learn more about this topic.

Christina Sisti, DPS, MPH, MS, is a bioethicist and health care policy advocate. She works to create awareness and improve healthcare policy for those with long-term health issues.