On June 25, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis, calling attention to the health and mental health harms of gun violence and suggesting policies to reduce gun deaths. In 2022, nearly 50,000 Americans died by gun violence, including homicides, suicides, and gun accidents. Since 2020, gun violence has been the top killer of children and teens in the U.S.

Gun deaths in the United States are increasing and many Americans have been affected by gun violence. More than half of U.S. adults report that they or a family member have been involved in a firearm-related incident. One in five adults have had a family member killed by a firearm.

Gun deaths include suicides, homicide, and firearm accidents. Suicides make up more than half of gun deaths and homicides make up about 40% of deaths. Accidents and law enforcement shooting make up the remaining deaths.

The number of mass shooting (shootings with 4 or more victims) has increased, but mass shootings account for only 1% of gun deaths. From 2020 to 2023 there were more than 600 mass shooting each year. A survey of U.S. adults revealed three out of four experienced stress about the possibility of mass shooting occurring.

The surgeon general’s Advisory report suggests requiring firearm licenses, safe firearm storage, limiting public carry, and community violence intervention programs. The report also calls for domestic violence protection orders, red flag laws, mental healthcare access, and expanding gun violence research. These policy changes will require Congress to create and pass legislation.

Researchers are still learning about best solutions to decrease gun violence and about how to best put those solutions into practice.