Crime Data Highlights Firearm Laws and Fatality Rates
There’s no shortage of debate regarding the impact of firearm laws in the United States. An Innerbody study adds to the discussion by having compiled data on violent crime rates relative to the strength of each state’s firearm laws.
Study Overview
Innerbody.com conducted a study on crimes against persons by state with data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). They also used the Giffords Law Center scorecard to determine where high and low violent crime states rank on firearm policies.
A Safety Correlation?
Innerbody found that six out of the top ten safest states in the US have exceptionally strong firearm laws.
Safest State
New Jersey is the safest state for violent crimes, according to Innerbody. The Garden State has the second strictest firearm laws in the U.S.
Runners Up
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, New York, Hawaii, and Massachusetts all ranked in the top ten for safest states in America with strict firearm control policies.
The Oddballs
Vermont, Maine, and Idaho are also among the top ten safest states in the US. But unlike the states before them, they stand out for having lenient gun laws. Giffords Law Center ranks Vermont as a “C-” for firearm policies, and Maine and Idaho both receive an “F” grade.
A Gaping Hole
California has the strictest firearm laws in the nation. However, the Golden State didn’t make it into Innerbody’s top ten safest states for violent crime rates. Instead, California ranked as having moderately low violent crime.
All Eyes on Violent Crime
Nevada is the most dangerous state in the country for violent crime rates, according to data Innerbody collected from the FBI. Giffords Law Center grades Nevada as a “C+” for firearm policy strength, which is relatively stronger than most of the top ten most dangerous states.
Other Dangerous States
Some other states in the top ten most dangerous states by violent crime rate include Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, Alaska, Alabama, North Dakota, South Carolina, and South Dakota. Giffords Law Center grades all these states as “F,” indicating loose firearm laws.
The Outlier
As with the safest states, not all of the top ten most dangerous states have firearm policies that fully match the anti-firearm narrative. New Mexico joins Nevada with a C+ grade, meaning it’s in the middle of the road for firearm policy strength in America.
49 States
Innerbody was only able to use 49 states in their violent crime analysis. Florida didn’t share its crime data with the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, so there weren’t any statistics to use.
Location Matters
No matter how strict a state’s gun policies are, firearm fatalities are higher in socially vulnerable neighborhoods. Firearm fatality rates are about six times higher for kids in vulnerable communities with strict state gun control laws than children living in non-vulnerable areas in states with loose firearm policies.
The Race Divide
Forty-six percent of child firearm fatalities in the U.S. are Black victims. White children are the second-largest victim group, at a 32% rate. Hispanic (17%) and Asian (1%) underage children are also victims.
Most Common Crime
The most common type of crime committed against Americans is assault, according to the FBI’s data. Whereas homicides make up 0.60% of violent crimes in the U.S., assaults compose nearly 91.5%.
A Powerful Weapon
A whopping 75% of homicides in the U.S. in 2020 were at the hands of a firearm.
Fast Turnaround
Of the guns law enforcement recovered in 2021, about one-third had been purchased within the past year and about half within the past three years.
The Hour Matters
The saying “Nothing good happens after midnight” is spot on, according to Innerbody’s findings. The greatest number of homicides happen between 12:00 am and 1:00 am.
Watch Your Work Commute
Starting at 1:00 am, the chance of a homicide occurring decreases. The downward trend happens until 9:00 am when the chances of a homicide run-in go up again.
Close to Home
Firearm misuse at the hands of domestic violence makes up nearly half of all gun violence incidents in America. The chances of a violent crime happening with a firearm at a bar or nightclub are surprisingly low.
It’s a Rollercoaster
Between 2019 and 2020, homicides in the U.S. increased by almost 30%. The year 2021 saw a relatively low 4.3% increase, with 2022’s data showing a homicide rate decrease of about the same amount.
Homicides Aren’t Everything
Over half (55%) of adult firearm fatalities in the U.S. are due to people taking their own lives. If you or someone you know needs help, the 988 Lifeline offers free 24/7 support.
States With the Highest and Lowest Firearm Fatality Rates
Most Americans would agree that too many citizens lose their lives to firearms. However, some states have higher rates of firearm fatalities than others. These are the states with the most and least annual firearm fatalities.
States With the Highest and Lowest Firearm Fatality Rates Ranked From 1 to 50
