Mass shootings and accidental deaths: The cost of America’s gun culture

U.S. media recently reported that two people were killed in a shooting incident in Washington, D.C. This is the latest instance of escalating gun violence in America.
The United States has seen a rise in gun violence incidents nationwide, a predictable annual increase that leads to more media coverage and government discussions on how to reverse this trend.
Gun violence is a distinctly American problem. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the homicide rate in America is comparable to that of the year 1900. This prompts many to ask: Why is this the case, and what can be done differently?
Politically, the most contentious aspect of this debate revolves around gun control. Firearms make violent crimes significantly more lethal.
If there were a way to eliminate the 400 million firearms in America—a country with a population of 330 million—overall safety would improve considerably.
This has led to extensive debates on gun control, which have proven largely ineffective at the national level.
The primary impact of firearms on gun violence is their ability to make violence more deadly. Even if little can be done about firearms themselves, real progress on gun violence can be achieved by reducing interpersonal violence.
Indeed, a growing body of data and evidence suggests that preventing shootings in the first place is not only possible but also far more cost-effective compared to traditional and partisan U.S. policies.
Data from the Gun Violence Archive indicates that 24 mass shootings have occurred in the U.S. in the past 20 days alone.
In 2025, the U.S. has witnessed 500 unintentional shootings (accidental or negligent), equating to 3.6 incidents per day.
According to the latest available CDC statistics, nearly 47,000 people died from firearm-related injuries in the U.S. in 2023.
While the number of deaths from gun violence in the U.S. has declined for the second consecutive year, it remains among the highest annual figures recorded.
Although suicides typically receive less public attention than gun-related homicides, they have long accounted for the majority of firearm deaths in the U.S.
In 2023, 58% of all firearm-related deaths in the U.S. were suicides, while 38% were homicides.
According to CDC data, firearm-related deaths in that year also included those involving law enforcement (604), accidental shootings (463), or incidents under undetermined circumstances (434).