In recent years, gun violence in the United States has become an alarmingly common occurrence. From 2016, there has been over ****** homicides by firearm in the U.S. each year and firearms have been found to make up the majority of murder weapons in the country by far, demonstrating increasing rates of gun violence occurring throughout the nation. As of 2025, Mississippi was the state with the highest gun violence rate per 100,000 residents in the United States, at **** percent, followed by Louisiana, at **** percent. In comparison, Massachusetts had a gun violence rate of *** percent, the lowest out of all the states. The importance of gun laws Gun laws in the United States vary from state to state, which has been found to affect the differing rates of gun violence throughout the country. Fewer people die by gun violence in states where gun safety laws have been passed, while gun violence rates remain high in states where gun usage is easily permitted and even encouraged. In addition, some states suffer from high rates of gun violence despite having strong gun safety laws due to gun trafficking, as traffickers can distribute firearms illegally past state lines. The right to bear arms Despite evidence from other countries demonstrating that strict gun control measures reduce rates of gun violence, the United States has remained reluctant to enact gun control laws. This can largely be attributed to the Second Amendment of the Constitution, which states that citizens have the right to bear arms. Consequently, gun control has become a highly partisan issue in the U.S., with ** percent of Democrats believing that it was more important to limit gun ownership while ** percent of Republicans felt that it was more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns.

In the United States, gun laws vary from one state to the next; whether residents need a permit or a background check to purchase a firearm, whether residents must undergo firearm training before making this purchase, and whether residents can openly carry their guns in public is dependent upon state legislation. As of 2024, ** U.S. states required background checks and/or permits for the purchase of a handgun. A further ** states had regulations on openly carrying firearms in public, however, only California, Connecticut, Florida, and Illinois had completely prohibited open carry for all firearms. In comparison, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York prohibited open carry for handguns but either did not have regulations in place or required a permit for other types of guns. A constitutional right The Second Amendment of the Constitution, which states that citizens have the right to bear arms, has made it difficult for any gun control legislation to be passed on a national level in the United States. As a result, gun control laws in the U.S. are state-based, and often differ based on political perspectives. States with strong gun laws in place, such as Massachusetts, generally experience less gun violence, however, some states with strong gun laws, such as Maryland, continue to face high rates of gun violence, which has largely been attributed to gun trafficking activity found throughout the nation. A culture of gun owners In comparison to other high-income countries with stricter gun control laws, the United States has the highest gun homicide rate at **** gun homicides per 100,000 residents. However, despite increasing evidence that easy access to firearms, whether legal or illegal, encourages higher rates of gun violence, the United States continues to foster an environment in which owning a firearm is seen as personal freedom. Almost **** of U.S. households have reported owning at least one firearm and ** percent of registered voters in the U.S. were found to believe that it was more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, compared to ** percent who said it was more important to limit gun ownership.

According to a survey conducted in January 2023, about 17 percent of all registered voters identifying as Republican strongly supported stricter firearm legislation in the United States. This proportion was much higher among Democratic voters, 73 percent of whom strongly supported stricter gun control laws.

California led the way in gun safety in the United States as of January 2025, with a composite score of 90.5 based on the presence of 50 key gun safety policies. Massachusetts followed, with a score of 86.5, while Illinois rounded out the top three with a score of 85.5. Illinois joins the no-assault weapons club In 2023, Illinois came in seventh place for gun law strength; by 2024, this ranking rose to third, signifying that the state holds some of the strongest gun safety laws nationwide. However, this swift rise up the ranks also suggests that Illinois is still taking action against gun violence, particularly after seven people were killed and dozens were injured in a mass shooting in Chicago during a Fourth of July parade in 2022. In recent years, Illinois has consistently improved state legislation on gun safety and has enacted multiple measures to prevent further harm from firearms, including a statewide ban on assault weapons which was approved in January 2023. The Midwestern state joined eight other states, as well as Washington, D.C., which prohibits military-style weapons. Permissive open carry states dominate the bottom of the class Receiving less than five points each, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Idaho represent the lowest composite score for gun law strength nationwide. Arkansas, Mississippi, and Idaho are among the 25 U.S. states that do not require any permit to carry concealed guns in public, and are permissive open carry states as well. Moreover, these states do not require a permit or a background check to purchase a handgun and also neglect to necessitate any firearm safety training before making the purchase. Such gun safety laws are considered crucial to ensure that firearms are handled properly and do not cause anyone harm. However, it is also important to note that countries with strong safety measures may still experience high rates of gun violence due to illegal gun trafficking. As a result, taking legal action may not fully address all gun-related violence in the area, especially if there remains an illicit way for people to obtain a gun without restriction.

This statistic shows the results of a survey among adult Americans on what they consider more important - the right to bear arms or controlling gun ownership. The survey was conducted in July 2012, shortly after the Aurora shootings. During the survey, 46 percent of respondents said they believed that the right to own guns was more important.

1) Data Introduction • The Gun Violence Dataset in US is a tabularized data set for gun violence analysis that includes the date, location, victim and suspect information, and geographic coordinates of major 2024 shootings across the U.S.

2) Data Utilization (1) Gun Violence Dataset in US has characteristics that: • Each row contains key information about the shooting, including incident-specific ID, date of occurrence, state and city/county, number of deaths and injuries, suspects (death, injury, arrest), latitude, and longitude. • Data is designed to analyze the distribution of gun incidents and the extent of damage by month and region, and spatial analysis through geographic coordinates is also possible. (2) Gun Violence Dataset in US can be used to: • Analysis of shooting trends by region: Use data by location, magnitude of damage, and time to visualize and analyze the regional and temporal distribution and risk areas of gun violence. • Establishing public safety policies and prevention strategies: Based on victim and suspect information and incident characteristics, it can be used to establish effective gun control, prevention policies, resource allocation strategies, and more.

How do events that highlight a policy issue impact political preferences? In this paper, I analyze the impact of mass shootings on voter behavior. I show that, conditional on population, mass shootings are largely random events. Using a difference-in-differences strategy, I find that mass shootings result in a 1.7 percentage point loss in Republican vote share in counties where they occur. Identification that relies on comparing successful and failed mass shootings yields similar results. Mass shootings lead to an increase in the salience of gun policy and increase the divide on gun policy among both voters and politicians. Democrats (Republicans) tend to demand even stricter (looser) gun control after mass shootings. These results suggest that increasing the salience of an issue may polarize the electorate.

In the United States, Black people have higher rates of gun homicide than White people across all age groups. As of 2022, gun homicide rates were highest among Black people aged between 15 and 24 years, at 63.78 gun homicides per 100,000 of the population. In comparison, there were only 2.58 gun homicides per 100,000 of the White population within this age range. However, the risk for gun homicide was greatest among all adolescents and adults between the ages of 15 to 44 in that year. The impact of guns on young Americans In the last few years, firearms have become the leading cause of death for American children and teenagers aged one to 19 years old, accounting for more deaths than car crashes and diseases. School shootings also remain on the rise recently, with the U.S. recording 57 times as many school shootings than other high-income nations from 2009 to 2018. Black students in particular experience a disproportionately high number of school shootings relative to their population, and K-12 teachers at schools made up mostly of students of color are more likely to report feeling afraid that they or their students would be a victim of attack or harm. The right to bear arms Despite increasingly high rates of gun-related violence, gun ownership remains a significant part of American culture, largely due to the fact that the right to bear arms is written into the U.S. Constitution. Although firearms are the most common murder weapon used in the U.S., accounting for approximately 15,000 homicides in 2022, almost half of American households have at least one firearm in their possession. Consequently, it is evident that firearms remain easily accessible nationwide, even though gun laws may vary from state to state. However, the topic of gun control still causes political controversy, as the majority of Republicans agree that it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, while Democrats are more inclined to believe that it is more important to limit gun ownership.

When and to what extent do crises and significant events induce changes in political attitudes? Theories of public opinion and policymaking predict that major events restructure public opinion and pry open new political opportunities. We examine the effect of major events on support for public policies in the context of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting in December 2012 using a nationally representative panel survey of U.S.\ adults. Across both cross-sectional and within-subject analyses, we find no evidence that Americans granted greater support for gun control after the Sandy Hook shooting. Our null findings persist across a range of political and demographic groups. We also find no evidence of attitude polarization as a result of Sandy Hook. Our results suggest that elite polarization in a particular issue area leads citizens to employ motivated reasoning when interpreting critical events, thereby reducing the capacity for attitude change. Our findings have important implications for identifying the conditions under which major events affect support for public policies and create political opportunities for policy change.

Replication Data for: Mass Shootings and Public Support for Gun Control

As of July 2024, Democrats were more in favor of making gun laws more strict than Republicans. There was also wide support for stricter gun laws from Independents.This survey was conducted shortly after former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally, during which a bullet grazed his ear. While Trump was unharmed, one spectator was killed by the gunman, and others injured.

The global gun market, valued at $5.95 billion in 2025, is projected to experience steady growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.36% from 2025 to 2033. This growth is driven by several factors, including increasing concerns about personal safety and home security, leading to higher demand for firearms for self-defense. Furthermore, the rise in recreational shooting and hunting activities contributes significantly to market expansion. Stringent gun control regulations in several regions act as a significant restraint, limiting market growth potential in those areas. However, growing demand in emerging markets partially offsets these restrictions. The market is segmented by production analysis, consumption analysis, import/export market analysis (both value and volume), and price trend analysis. Major players such as Heckler & Koch, Mossberg, FN Herstal, and Ruger dominate the market, leveraging their established brand reputations and extensive distribution networks. Regional analysis reveals that North America currently holds the largest market share due to high gun ownership rates and a strong hunting culture. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years, driven by increasing disposable incomes and changing consumer preferences. Competitive dynamics are characterized by a mix of established players and smaller niche manufacturers, leading to innovation in firearm technology and design. The price trend analysis reveals a gradual increase in gun prices over the past few years, influenced by factors such as rising raw material costs and increased demand. The import/export data shows variations across regions, indicating a complex interplay of supply and demand dynamics on a global scale. Production analysis indicates a shift towards technologically advanced firearms, emphasizing features like improved accuracy and ergonomics. Consumption patterns indicate a preference for specific types of firearms based on regional regulations and consumer preferences. The forecast period (2025-2033) suggests a continued growth trajectory, although the exact figures may be influenced by geopolitical factors and changes in government policies regarding firearms. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for stakeholders to strategize effectively within this complex and often sensitive market. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of the global gun market, encompassing historical data from 2019-2024, a base year of 2025, and a forecast period extending to 2033. Valued at billions of dollars annually, the market's dynamics are intricately linked to global political climates, socioeconomic factors, and technological advancements. This report offers crucial insights for industry stakeholders, investors, and policymakers seeking to understand the complexities and future trajectory of this multifaceted sector. The study period covers significant market shifts, allowing for a robust understanding of current trends and future projections. Notable trends are: Semi-Automatic/Automatic Segment to Have the Highest Growth Rate.

Review of Economics and Statistics: Forthcoming. Visit https://dataone.org/datasets/sha256%3A26b97c9e30660e3816bc14e5c4ff35acca0742dc64f6e0c06c0c80813bf9ebac for complete metadata about this dataset.

This repository contains all replication materials for " Reexamining the Effect of Mass Shootings on Public Support for Gun Control" by David J. Barney and Brian F. Schaffner. The data included are as follows: 3 CCES panel datasets, supplementary data for merging, 2 fully-merged CCES panel datasets. In addition, we include two .do files of Stata code, one of which prepares the data for analysis, and one of which replicates the analyses presented in our paper.

While public debate over gun control in the United States has often hinged on individual public mass shooting incidents, legislative action should be informed by knowledge of the long-term evolution of these events. We present a new Bayesian model for the annualized rate of public mass shootings in the United States based on a Gaussian process with a time-varying mean function. While we present specific findings on long- and short-term trends of these shootings in the U.S., our focus is on understanding the role of model design and prior information in policy analysis. Using a Markov chain Monte Carlo inference technique, we explore the posterior consequences of different prior choices and explore correlations between hyperparameters. We demonstrate that the findings about the long-term evolution of the annualized rate of public mass shootings are robust to choices about prior information, while inferences about the timescale and amplitude of short-term variation depend sensitively on the prior. This work addresses the policy implications of implicit and explicit choices of prior information in model design and the utility of full Bayesian inference in evaluating the consequences of those choices.

The home defense gun market, encompassing firearms specifically designed for residential self-protection, is experiencing robust growth driven by escalating concerns about personal safety and home security. The market's expansion is fueled by several factors, including rising crime rates in certain regions, increasing awareness of self-defense techniques, and a surge in demand for specialized firearms optimized for close-quarters combat situations. The market segmentation reveals a strong preference for light guns, due to their ease of handling and maneuverability within confined spaces, which accounts for a larger share of the market. Daily defense applications clearly dominate the market segment, signifying a key driver for purchasing decisions. The competitive landscape is characterized by established players like Smith & Wesson, Beretta Holding, and Ruger & Co., alongside newer entrants focusing on innovative designs and technological advancements. Geographical distribution showcases North America and Europe as leading markets, reflecting higher gun ownership rates and comparatively less stringent regulations than certain regions in Asia-Pacific or the Middle East & Africa. While the market is witnessing rapid expansion, restraints such as increasingly stricter gun control laws in certain regions, and heightened public scrutiny of gun violence, pose challenges to future growth. However, the overall market trajectory indicates a sustained upward trend, particularly driven by consistent demand from the daily defense segment and technological innovations enhancing firearm safety and performance. Despite these positive market trends, certain challenges remain. The cost of firearms and associated accessories can be prohibitive for many potential consumers. Additionally, increased awareness of responsible gun ownership and safety practices may lead to slower growth in some regions. However, the manufacturers are adept at addressing these concerns through the introduction of affordable firearm models and enhanced training programs that foster responsible gun ownership. This strategic approach is expected to help sustain the market's momentum, allowing the industry to continue its growth trajectory.

Objective: We propose that citizens navigate an increasingly complex social and political world using a “cultural toolkit” shaped by firearms and gun violence. Young people in particular have experienced more mass shootings than any previous generation and have witnessed a lack of government response to these massacres. This article explores the attitudes that members of the Massacre Generation express about mass shooting prevention. Methods: We analyze data from several public opinion surveys conducted following major mass shootings in the United States using ordinary least squares and logistic regression. These surveys were fielded and sponsored by a variety of organizations and asked a nearly identical question about whether mass shootings can be prevented by societal and governmental action. Results: We find that the Massacre Generation is indeed more likely to think the government can prevent mass shootings by implementing stricter gun control laws. We find evidence of these attitudes in multiple public opinion surveys from 2012 to 2018. Furthermore, we find no age effect in multiple surveys conducted between 1999 and 2011, suggesting that these attitudes are a relatively new phenomenon. Conclusion: Young people today express that government regulation (i.e., stricter gun laws) can prevent gun violence, placing them at odds with older generations. We discuss the implications of our findings for gun policy development and the future of the gun debate.

BackgroundGun violence has shortened the average life expectancy of Americans, and better knowledge about the root causes of gun violence is crucial to its prevention. While some empirical evidence exists regarding the impacts of social and economic factors on violence and firearm homicide rates, to the author’s knowledge, there has yet to be a comprehensive and comparative lagged, multilevel investigation of major social determinants of health in relation to firearm homicides and mass shootings.Methods and findingsThis study used negative binomial regression models and geolocated gun homicide incident data from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2015, to explore and compare the independent associations of key state-, county-, and neighborhood-level social determinants of health—social mobility, social capital, income inequality, racial and economic segregation, and social spending—with neighborhood firearm-related homicides and mass shootings in the United States, accounting for relevant state firearm laws and a variety of state, county, and neighborhood (census tract [CT]) characteristics. Latitude and longitude coordinates on firearm-related deaths were previously collected by the Gun Violence Archive, and then linked by the British newspaper The Guardian to CTs according to 2010 Census geographies. The study population consisted of all 74,134 CTs as defined for the 2010 Census in the 48 states of the contiguous US. The final sample spanned 70,579 CTs, containing an estimated 314,247,908 individuals, or 98% of the total US population in 2015. The analyses were based on 13,060 firearm-related deaths in 2015, with 11,244 non-mass shootings taking place in 8,673 CTs and 141 mass shootings occurring in 138 CTs. For area-level social determinants, lag periods of 3 to 17 years were examined based on existing theory, empirical evidence, and data availability. County-level institutional social capital (levels of trust in institutions), social mobility, income inequality, and public welfare spending exhibited robust relationships with CT-level gun homicide rates and the total numbers of combined non-mass and mass shooting homicide incidents and non-mass shooting homicide incidents alone. A 1–standard deviation (SD) increase in institutional social capital was linked to a 19% reduction in the homicide rate (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.81, 95% CI 0.73–0.91, p

Over the last few years, gun violence in the United States has become an increasingly deadly public health crisis. In 2021, firearms were the leading cause of death for children and adolescents aged one to 19 years old for a second year in a row in the United States, with ***** deaths from firearms, which accounted for more deaths than car crashes and other diseases in that year. This is an increase from the previous year, when there were ***** deaths from firearms. Gun violence in the U.S. Along with a rise in gun-related deaths, the United States has been experiencing an overall increase in gun violence, including mass shootings, school shootings, and gun homicides. Not surprisingly, the United States has also reported in increase in gun sales, with the unit sales for firearms reaching a new high in recent years. A uniquely American problem Despite the rise of gun violence and gun-related deaths, guns remain easily accessible in the United States and gun control has become a divisive issue throughout the nation. However, gun control proponents often call attention to the uniquely American phenomenon of school shootings. Since 2018, the annual number of incidents involving firearms at K-12 schools in the U.S. reached over *** in each year, while similar incidents in other countries with strict gun laws are exceptionally rare.

The civilian self-defense rifle market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing concerns about personal safety and home security. This demand is further fueled by factors such as rising crime rates in certain regions, political instability in some areas, and a growing preference for self-reliance among consumers. The market is segmented by rifle type (light, standard, heavy) and application (hunting, shooting sports, self-defense), with the self-defense application segment exhibiting particularly strong growth. Considering the provided data and industry trends, we can reasonably estimate the 2025 market size to be approximately $2.5 billion USD, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6% projected through 2033. This signifies a substantial market expansion and significant investment opportunities within the sector. This growth is not uniform across all regions. North America, particularly the United States, currently holds the largest market share due to high gun ownership rates and a strong culture of self-defense. However, increasing demand is observed in other regions as well, particularly in countries experiencing social or political instability. Europe and Asia-Pacific markets are projected to see notable growth, driven by factors such as increased awareness of personal safety and the rising popularity of shooting sports. The market's growth, however, faces certain restraints including stricter gun control regulations in some countries and rising manufacturing costs. This necessitates manufacturers to focus on innovative designs, enhanced features, and efficient supply chain management to navigate these challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities.