Does Nevada have the highest per capita gun violence of any state?
By Austin Tannenbaum
View this fact brief on The Nevada Independent
Copy link
Copy featured image
NO
Nevada has above-average gun violence, but it is not the worst among states.
In 2020, Nevada ranked 18th for firearm mortality per capita at 17 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For context, Mississippi’s rate was the highest at 28.6 per 100,000, and Hawaii’s was the lowest at 3.4 per 100,000.
Nevada also ranked high in previous years:
- In 2019, it ranked 15th, with a rate of 15.3 per 100,000.
- In 2018, it ranked 10th, with a rate of 17.9 per 100,000.
- In 2017, it ranked 14th, with a rate of 16.7 per 100,000.
- In 2016, it ranked 15th, with a rate of 16.8 per 100,000.
Around 500 people die by guns in Nevada each year — about a third from homicide and two thirds from suicide.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control Firearm mortality by state
Everytown for Gun Safety Gun violence in Nevada
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement.
We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever.
The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.