5 States with the Most Gun Violence in the US

In this article we are going to list the 5 States with the most gun violence in the US. For a deeper discussion and an extended list, please see 15 States with the Most Gun Violence in the US.

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5. Wyoming

Age-adjusted death rate: 23.4

Wyoming typically has the highest or second-highest gun suicide rate in the United States. With extremely high firearm availability and a culture where gun ownership is a central part of life, the lack of waiting periods for firearm purchases means that individuals in an acute mental health crisis have immediate access to a permanent solution.

4. Alabama

Age-adjusted death rate: 23.7

Alabama’s high rate is a reflection of both high homicide numbers in Birmingham and Mobile and high suicide rates in its rural northern counties. The state’s “Stand Your Ground” laws and the absence of a required permit for concealed carry have been cited by local law enforcement as factors that complicate their ability to keep firearms out of the hands of prohibited persons.

3. Alaska

Age-adjusted death rate: 24.4

Alaska’s gun violence rate is nearly triple the national average, driven by a devastating rate of firearm suicides and domestic violence. The unique challenges of the Alaskan environment—long periods of darkness, extreme isolation, and a lack of psychiatric beds—create a mental health landscape that is particularly susceptible to gun-related tragedies.

2. New Mexico

Age-adjusted death rate: 26.6

New Mexico has seen a dramatic spike in gun violence over the last five years, largely due to a rise in violent crime in Albuquerque. High rates of substance abuse and a struggling educational system provide the backdrop for a surge in firearm-related robberies and assaults, while the state’s vast rural areas see high rates of self-inflicted gun deaths.

1. Mississippi

Age-adjusted death rate: 28.1

Mississippi remains the state with the highest gun violence rate in America. This is primarily the result of the state’s extreme poverty and a lack of basic firearm safety regulations. The Delta region, in particular, suffers from a lack of healthcare and economic infrastructure, leading to a landscape where gun violence—both intentional and accidental—is an almost daily occurrence.

READ ALSO 20 States with Most Guns Per Capita in the US.