Washington, D.C. — Days after a string of mass shootings terrorized communities around the country in Santa Clarita, California; Pleasantville, New Jersey; Fresno, California; and Duncan, Oklahoma, the Center for American Progress released a series of updated fact sheets detailing the specific impact of gun violence in each state and Washington, D.C. These fact sheets underscore the nature and scope of gun violence in each state and highlight the need for policymakers at every level of government to take action.
Related: America Under Fire: An Analysis of Gun Violence in the United States and the Link to Weak Gun Laws
These fact sheets include data on 12 different metrics related to gun violence and gun-related crimes that are particularly alarming or unique to each state, including gun-related homicides, suicides, domestic violence murders of women, shooting deaths of children and teens, gun thefts, and crime guns exports. Data for these categories come from diverse sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and the FBI. These fact sheets will provide crucial data for advocates and policymakers working to strengthen gun laws and enact new policies to address this public health crisis.
Eugenio Weigend, associate director for Gun Violence Prevention at CAP, said:
Gun violence is a uniquely American problem, yet it is not a monolithic one. Communities around the country face different challenges when it comes to addressing gun violence—high rates of gun-related suicide require different approaches than high rates of homicide or gun theft. These fact sheets will help state policymakers, advocates, and community stakeholders grapple with the realities of gun violence in their communities and address their unique problems with targeted solutions.
In addition to the fact sheets, CAP released a series of updated charts detailing how each state ranks when it comes to key measures for preventing gun violence.
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Adam Peck at [email protected] or 202-741-6363.