Firearm violence statistics: 281,000 victims used firearms to defend themselves

Originally written for Crime in America. Republished with permission.

In 2023, the rate of nonfatal firearm violence was 2.0 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older, down 72% from 7.3 per 1,000 in 1993.
 

Nonfatal firearm violence includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault victimizations in which the offender had, showed, or used a firearm.

Victims used a firearm to threaten or attack the offender in 2% (184,300) of all nonfatal violence excluding simple assault; the offender had a firearm in 45% of these victimizations. In 1% (96,500) of property victimizations during which the victim was present, the victim threatened or attacked the offender with a firearm.

The data below on nonfatal firearm violence comes from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) of the US Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey and additional sources focusing on fatal firearm violence (future article).

There’s not a lot of comprehensive statistical data on nonfatal firearm violence which makes this report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics important. Most of what I read on the topic is advocacy rather than longitudinal (multi-year) data. This report adds clarity to the discussion

The terms used in this report can confuse which is why I highlight and explain the definitions used by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Nonfatal firearm violence includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault victimizations in which the offender had, showed, or used a firearm. It does not include overall violent crimes.

Nonfatal Violence includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assaults.

Nonfatal firearm violence is a subset of nonfatal violence.

I summarize the findings here as a service to readers but there is no substitute for reading the full report, especially as it applies to the footnotes in the provided charts and information on fatal violence.

I divide this article into three parts:

1. An overview of BJS data and my comments for context
2. Contextual data from Open AI
3. A summation of data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics report.

BJS Data And My Observations

I understand that the use of firearms during violent crimes is a highly emotional (and constitutional) issue with many suggesting that additional firearm restrictions are warranted. Most media coverage of violent crimes involves shootings resulting in injury or death. Restrictions (i.e., offenders and mentally ill people should not have access to firearms) are understandable.

Gun Control

But “if” the issue is controlling overall violent crime, let’s compare the US to another country where there is strict gun control. The homicide rate and severity of violence are much higher in the U.S. when compared to Great Britain. In contrast, the general violent crime rate appears higher in Great Britain (possibly due to broader definitions and reporting practices). In Great Britain, strict gun control laws mean firearms are rarely used in violent crimes (but knives are common in Great Britain violence-known as “knife crime” in UK media).

If Great Britain has a higher overall rate of violent crime with strict gun control laws, and if the annual average percentage of violence that involved an offender with a firearm was 8 percent in the US, then the violent crime issue becomes more than firearm restrictions if we are seeking comprehensive solutions.

Having said the above, firearm violence is a real concern within the US and can’t be dismissed by the rather small percentage of violent crimes involving firearms (mostly handguns).  Firearm-Related Death Is More Acute For Black and Latino Men Than Deployed U.S. Soldiers. Cities are being torn apart by firearm violence. Mass and school shootings (mostly involving handguns) are obvious concerns. 

Most Violent Crime Does Not Involve Firearms

The data from the National Crime Victimization Survey include the 5 years of 2018–2022, the annual average percentage of nonfatal violence that involved an offender with a firearm was 8%. In the same period, firearms were involved in an annual average of 22% of overall nonfatal violence excluding simple assault, 20% of robberies, and 32% of aggravated assaults.

 Nine percent of violent victimizations involved a firearm in 2023, similar to 2022.

400 Million Firearms In Private Hands

There are approximately 400 million firearms in private hands in the US. Per surveys, most owners state they possess firearms for self-defense (older surveys suggested that they were principally used for hunting). The growth in firearm ownership has been massive and was probably influenced by Gallup’s finding of a record fear of crime.

Media Coverage

The growth of US citizens possessing firearms has been remarkable yet the rate of nonfatal firearm violence has plummeted since 1993 for most (not all) years (chart below). This is not the narrative used by numerous writers when discussing nonfatal firearm violence; many (most?) writing about violent crime claim a continuous increase in firearm violence.

Most media articles and reports on serious violent crime emphasize firearm violence when the overwhelming majority of violent crimes do not involve firearms. This is understandable because most homicides (80 percent) involve firearms and, depending on the source, homicides increased by 50 percent in major cities and FBI data suggests a 30 percent increase in recent years. Homicides are currently declining in the US.

There are considerably more numbers of nonfatal firearm violence than fatal firearm violence.

Assault Weapons

Much of the conversation about fighting firearm violence has focused on assault weapons. The vast majority (90%) of firearm violence committed from 2018 to 2022 involved the use of a handgun. The USDOJ data on mass shootings principally involves the use of handguns.

On a personal note, I’ve never fully understood the focus on assault weapons when widely available hunting rifles have essentially the same capacity especially when one has numerous magazines. During my firearm training sessions (as a police officer and as a spokesperson for criminal justice agencies) I was told that handguns were far more efficient than rifles in most shooting situations.

While I understand the logic of banning certain weapons, and if I lost my child to a mass shooting involving an assault rifle, I would probably feel differently. But if you want to control violence through gun control, you would have to ban handguns along with hunting rifles which are protected by the US Constitution and numerous court rulings.  

Where Shootings Occur

Forty-two percent of nonfatal firearm violence occurred in or near the victim’s home which replicates findings from the FBI and other sources. Being home or near your home becomes a point of concern for a variety of violent crimes.

Strangers

Strangers committed a greater percentage of nonfatal firearm violence (61%) than known offenders (39%) which is different than most violent crimes. For most violent crimes, the victim knows their assailant. 

Citizens Use Of Firearms To Defend Themselves

Citizens used firearms to defend themselves in 184,300 violent crimes.  They did the same in 96,500 property crimes. This includes threatening (not firing at) offenders.

Physical Injury

A total of 19% of all nonfatal firearm victimizations resulted in physical injury during 2018–2022. Considering the percentage of offenders with mental health issues and the fact that, per older USDOJ data, the majority were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of arrest, this finding is not surprising. Firearm use requires a wide array of skills to hit a target.

Data Overview From Open AI-A Different Analysis:

Nonfatal Firearm Violence:

In 2021, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reported an estimated 47,000 nonfatal firearm victimizations in the U.S., based on surveys. However, emergency department data suggests the number is much higher.

For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated about 81,000 nonfatal firearm injuries treated in emergency departments in 2021.

Fatal Firearm Violence:

The CDC reported about 48,830 firearm-related deaths in 2021, including suicides (about 54%) and homicides (43%).

Key Takeaways:

For every 1 firearm-related death, there are roughly 1.5 to 2 nonfatal injuries, though this ratio can vary by year and context.

Nonfatal shootings can include injuries from assaults, accidental discharges, and cases of self-defense. Fatal cases are primarily homicides or suicides.

Medical advancements have also increased the likelihood of survival from gunshot wounds, contributing to the higher rate of nonfatal incidents.



 

Main Points From The Bureau Of Justice Statistics

About 64% of nonfatal firearm violence was reported to police during 2018–2022.

The firearm homicide rate among persons age 12 or older fluctuated between 1993 and 2023, with a decline from 1993 to 2014 (from 8.4 to 4.0 homicides per 100,000 persons age 12 or older) before rising to 7.3 per 100,000 in 2021. 

From 2018 to 2022, on average, 80% of homicides were committed with a firearm.

The majority (90%) of firearm violence committed from 2018 to 2022 involved the use of a handgun. 

During the aggregate period of 2018–2022, males (10.6 per 100,000) had higher rates of firearm homicide than females (1.9 per 100,000). 

Males (2.0 per 1,000) also had higher rates of nonfatal firearm victimization than females (1.2 per 1,000) during 2018–2022.

Persons ages 18 to 24 had the highest firearm homicide rate (14.2 homicides per 100,000) among all age groups during 2018–2022. 

Among high school students, 1 in 20 males and nearly 1 in 50 females carried a firearm at least once in the past 12 months for a reason other than hunting or sport in 2023.

42% of nonfatal firearm violence occurred in or near the victim’s home during 2018–2022. During 2018–2022, there were 2.3 million nonfatal firearm victimizations. Forty-two percent of nonfatal firearm violence occurred in or near the victim’s home. A greater percentage of nonfatal violence involving a firearm (22%) than nonfirearm violence (13%) occurred near the victim’s home.

However, a lower percentage of firearm violence (20%) than nonfirearm violence (28%) occurred in the victim’s home. Additionally, a greater percentage of nonfatal violence involving a firearm (27%) than nonfirearm violence (18%) occurred in an open area, on the street, or on public transportation.



 

Stranger Violence

Strangers committed a greater percentage of nonfatal firearm violence (61%) than known offenders (39%).

Friends or acquaintances committed a greater percentage of nonfatal firearm violence (20%) than intimate partners (12%) and other relatives (7%). 

In comparison, strangers committed 42% of the 7.4 million nonfirearm violent victimizations during 2018–2022, while known persons committed 58%.

Similar to nonfatal firearm violence, friends or acquaintances committed a greater percentage of nonfirearm violence (31%) than intimate partners (19%) and other relatives (9%).

Injuries

A total of 19% of all nonfatal firearm victimizations resulted in physical injury during 2018–2022.

Nine percent of nonfatal firearm victimizations resulted in serious injury (e.g., gunshot wounds, broken bones, or internal injuries), while 10% resulted in minor injury (e.g., bruises or cuts).

Victims received medical treatment in 59% of these victimizations. Among the victimizations in which victims received treatment, 68% did so in a hospital or doctor’s office.

In comparison, 39% of all nonfirearm violent victimizations resulted in physical injury, including 23% that resulted in serious injury and 16% that resulted in minor injury. Victims received medical treatment in 46% of these victimizations, which was a smaller percentage than those injured due to nonfatal firearm violence (59%).

Self Defense

A firearm was used for self-defense in 2% of nonfatal violence excluding simple assault. The NCVS collects data on victims’ reactions and any actions they may have taken during the incident.

During 2018–2022, the victim either took no action against the offender or kept still in 36% of all nonfatal violence excluding simple assault. Editor’s note, most violent crimes are simple assaults.

Victims used other self-protective behaviors such as noncombative tactics (34%) (e.g., yelling, running away, or trying to attract attention) and threatening or attacking the offender without a weapon (23%).

Victims used a firearm to threaten or attack the offender in 2% (184,300) of all nonfatal violence excluding simple assault; the offender had a firearm in 45% of these victimizations.

In 1% (96,500) of property victimizations during which the victim was present, the victim threatened or attacked the offender with a firearm.

Victims And Offenders

During 2018–2022, the percentage of nonfatal firearm incidents that involved black persons as both victims and perceived offenders was higher than their share of the population.

During 2018–2022, the percentage of nonfatal firearm incidents involving white victims (54%) was smaller than the percentage of white persons in the U.S. population (62%).

In comparison, the percentage of nonfatal firearm incidents involving black victims (20%) was larger than the percentage of black persons in the population (12%).

The same pattern was found for Hispanic victims.

For offenders, the percentage of nonfatal firearm incidents during 2018–2022 with persons perceived by the victim to be white (34%) was almost half their share of the population (62%).

Comparatively, the percentage with persons perceived by the victim to be black (32%) was greater than the percentage of black persons in the population (12%).

The percentage of persons perceived by the victim to be Hispanic (15%) was lower than the percentage of Hispanic persons in the population (18%).