History of Gun Violence in the United States 

As the media has evolved, public knowledge about gun violence around the world has increased, and a spotlight has been put on the issue of gun violence in the United States of America. This is in part because the United States has high levels of gun violence, with as many as 46,728 people dying in 2023 (Gramlich). It is also due in part to the fact that the United States has one of the highest gun violence rates of any developed country. Because of this, the issue of gun violence in the United States has been intensively studied by researchers and organizations around the world. There is extensive research regarding the amount of gun deaths, gun laws, prevention strategies, constitutional rights, and solutions to minimize gun deaths. And, while research has shown that gun deaths in the United States are preventable, there is still a strong push against legislation that would introduce said prevention strategies. Opponents of gun restrictions-the persons advocating against prevention strategies-argue that gun restrictions violate their second amendment rights, and that those rights need to be maintained no matter the cost. Meanwhile, proponents of gun restrictions argue that the cons of losing certain gun rights is most certainly outweighed by the pros of minimizing gun deaths. In this paper, the history of gun violence in the United States will be intensively examined. This paper will aim to answer how gun violence has evolved over time, how gun laws and court rulings have evolved, and how individuals in the United States view the issue of gun violence. To do this, it will show gun death trends and highlight what groups are most affected by guns. Furthermore, it will track gun laws across the state and federal level and will explain how these laws contribute to the gun death rate. Lastly, it will showcase prevention strategies available to individuals and propose possible next steps by the United States government and American individuals that would minimize infringement on personal rights while simultaneously working to keep everyone safe.

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Gun violence has been a prominent issue since the beginning of the modern United States. However, comprehensive research about gun violence only started around the mid-1900s. And, the focus on mass shootings only emerged after the 1999 attack at Columbine High School which killed thirteen and left twenty-four injured. Since that 1999 attack, moreover, mass shootings have increased in lethality and frequency (Schildkraut and Geller). There are a variety of factors that have contributed to these increases, the most prominent one being technological advancements by society. As technologies have evolved, so have guns. They have become quicker and more effective at accomplishing their goal-to kill. These advanced guns, including semiautomatic rifles and increasingly-advanced handguns (the two guns prominently used in mass shootings), are also becoming increasingly available for purchase to the everyday individual.  

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In data collected about mass shootings from 2000 (the year after Columbine) to 2023, the FBI found 3 attempts by a person(s) to kill people in a populated area in 2000. By 2021 there were 61 of these incidents, and by 2023 the number had fallen to 48 incidents (Gramlich). 

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It is important to note that mass shootings are not the only event that contributes to gun violence deaths. As of 2023, gun suicides made up 56.4% of gun deaths. This is followed by gun homicides accounting for 40.4% of deaths. Smaller contributors to gun deaths are shootings by police (1.1%), unintentional gun deaths (0.9%), and undetermined gun deaths (1.3%). In regard to these statistics, access to guns triples the risk of death by suicide and doubles the risk of death by homicide. Access also makes it 5 times more likely that a woman is killed through domestic violence (Everytown).

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It is also important to understand the distinctions in persons affected by gun violence. While the people who commit mass shootings are “...overwhelmingly males who typically act on their own (95 percent), [and] a majority of the perpetrators are White (55 percent—one in four are Black)...” (Schildkraut and Geller), races are disproportionately affected by the issue. When examning race, one finds White men represent 70% of firearm suicide victims in the United States. However, African Americans are approximately 12 times more likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts. In consideration to age, firearms are the leading cause of death in United States teenagers and children (with African American children 18 times more likely to die by gun homicide). With these statistics in consideration, it adds up that “59 percent of adults or someone they know or care about have experienced gun violence in their lifetime” (Everytown). 

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One might be wondering what laws have been put in place to try and mitigate these gun violence deaths since it is evident that it affects a large portion of the United States. Each state varies with its gun policy. While none outright ban guns, they can prevent them from being taken in specific spaces, require intense background checks, etc. States such as California, Illinois, New York, and Maryland have very strict gun laws, while states like Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Texas, and Utah have little gun restrictions. For the purpose of this paper, in-depth examination will be given to federal gun laws over the years. The first major gun law to be passed federally was the 1934 National Firearms Act which identified certain guns as “regulated,” meaning they have specific rules and regulations surrounding ownership. Later, in 1968 the Gun Control Act (GCA) prohibited people from purchasing or possessing firearms if they were deemed dangerous or at-risk. These expanded restrictions were then contradicted with the Firearm Owners Protection Act (1986) which expanded protections for unlawful gun sales. The Firearm Owners Protection Act was then itself contradicted by the Brady Act (1994) which mandated background checks on gun purchases and created a system to identify when persons not supposed to were attempting to buy a firearm. The most recent significant legislation passed was the Bipartisan Gun Act, which most notably enhanced background checks and increased funding for emergency protection orders and school mental health programs (Raissian, et al). 

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The Legislative Branch is not the only branch of government that has played a role in gun violence laws. The Supreme Court of the United States has also played a key role in determining the constitutionality of gun laws. The first major gun law case SCOTUS weighed in on was District of Columbia v. Heller (2008). This case protected an individual’s right to own a gun in their home and allowed for the gun to be used in cases of self-defense. While acknowledging that the Second Amendment right was not unlimited, this ruling still affirmed the right by everyday individuals to possess a gun and use it lawfully. The Court furthered their ruling by upholding the ability to make gun laws as long as it did not “burden the aggrieved party’s ‘core’ right to self-defense” (Schildkraut, Geller). However, the Court overturned this precedent in its 2022 ruling New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. It expanded the right to possess a gun from a private sphere to a more public one by limiting state’s abilities to regulate the carrying and/or possession of firearms in public places. The Court justified its ruling by stating that determining constitutionality should be based solely on what the text from 200 years ago said, ruling that it should take in no “...consideration [of] the harm to others and the degree to which a law or regulation might mitigate that threat to the public” (Ulrich). The next major gun case brought to the Court, United States v. Rahmi (2024), contradicted the ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Rahimi stated that an individual may be temporarily disarmed if they are considered a threat to the safety of others. To decide this case, the court looked at historical principles rather than direct laws (or direct interpretation). More recently, The most recent ruling from the Court was Bondi v. VanDerStok (2025). It ruled that a redefinition of specific firearm regulations to account for gun advances was appropriate under the Second Amendment (Bondi). Since the VanDerStok ruling, the Supreme Court has declined to hear cases challenging Rhode Island’s ban on large-capacity magazines and Maryland’s ban on assault-weapons, effectively upholding the constitutionality of the laws (among denying to hear some other gun-related cases). 

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Now that a basis has been established for the government's role, it is time to discuss an individual’s role in gun violence prevention. The most effective way to prevent incidents with guns is for an individual to abstain from having one. However, this solution is hardly realistic in the United States. So, the next steps are for individuals to make sure they take proper precautions. If a gun is being stored in the home, it should be unloaded, and the bullets should be stored separately from the gun. There are many programs that will hand out free gun locks to add further protection and ease of mind. The gun(s) should also be stored in a place where young children (or those other than the lawful owner) will be unable to access them. Not only does this prevent accidental gun deaths, it also prevents guns from being stolen by children or peers for mal intent. 

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Furthermore, it is every individual's responsibility to look for warning signs from potential shooters. With many shootings, the shooter demonstrated signs of their plan long before the shooting even took place. These include hateful internet speech, written affidates, demonstration of mental health issues, isolation from others, and/or expressing their plans to another individual. If one sees any of these signs, or anything else that raises alarm bells, they should immediately contact the police. If they wish to remain anonymous, there are tip lines through organizations such as The Sandy Hook Promise that also allow for reports.

Outside of the prevention strategies listed above, one has the power of their voice. In a democracy, a voice is a powerful tool that can enact real change. Examples of voices enacting change include the civil rights movement, anti-war movement, and others. Recently, however, we have seen an influx in Generation Z using their voices to bring attention to the issue of gun violence, which “...was ranked fourth in the Harvard Youth Poll amongst top political concerns for Gen Z…” (Davis). The fact that gun violence was ranked a top issue is most likely why the United States has seen an increase in protests against it. Generation Z’s stance on gun violence will also be particularly important in upcoming local, state, and federal elections as they use their voices in the voting booth. 

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Here, however, it is important to acknowledge that there is also a rising Conservative movement within Generation Z. This was most highlighted through MAGA (Make America Great Again-A Republican Movement) influencer Charlie Kirk. Kirk’s views specifically regarding gun violence were as follows: “I think it’s worth [it] to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other god-given rights” (Kirk). This sentiment was widely shared among Kirk and his growing Generation Z supporters, effectively highlighting the prominence of members of Generation Z in opposition to addressing gun violence.    

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As for any laws currently being passed, it is unlikely that it will happen. The Republican Party has control of both the Senate and the House. And, because the Republican Party overwhelmingly opposes restrictive gun laws, it is unlikely that any legislation increasing gun laws will be passed in this legislative session. However, in individual states there is consistent legislation being rolled out regarding guns. Whether restrictive or expansive depends on the individual state.

If one feels passionately on either side of the aisle, there are organizations that post information about protests, fundraisers, and more regarding the topic. In addition, it is imperative that one exercises their right to vote. When voting, it is important that citizens make an informed choice on who will best represent their personal beliefs. To find out what certain candidates support, a quick Google search should usually suffice. When researching, however, make sure the sources are trustworthy and corroborated by different outlets. Lastly, it is important to encourage civil discourse on the topic. Both sides should listen to what the respective one has to say with empathy, respect, and acceptiveness.  

 

This research was designed to give an overarching view on the issue with the ultimate goal of informing the reader about the various takes on the issue. As the reader is most likely an individual residing in the United States, it is their duty to be informed on the issues that affect their country. This research has showcased that, no matter what side of the aisle one is on, gun violence should be an issue that they discuss with their peers and consider when they go to the voting booth. Ultimately, though, it is designed to allow the reader to make the most informed choice possible regarding their stance on gun violence.    

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                                                                                                           Works Cited 

Davis, Rylee. “Gen Z Voters Stress Gun Control Policies.” Los Angeles Loyolan, 31 May 2024,  www.laloyolan.com/e2024/gen-z-voters-stress-gun-control-policies/article_decba609-2096-52c9-9c89-0512f87ac055.html#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20every%20member%20of,violence%20issue%20with%20school%20shootings. 

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Gramlich, John. “What the Data Says about Gun Deaths in the U.S.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 5 Mar. 2025, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/05/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-us/.

 

“Gun Violence in America.” Everytown Research & Policy, 7 Nov. 2024, everytownresearch.org/report/gun-violence-in-america/. 

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Schildkraut , Jaclyn, and Lisa Geller. “Mass Shootings in the United States: Prevalence, Policy, and a Way Forward .” The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 20 June 2023, journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00027162231164484. 

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Raissian, Kerri M., et al. “Gun Violence and Gun Policy in the United States: Understanding American Exceptionalism -  .” The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science , 20 June 2023, journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00027162231174162. 

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Ulrich, Michael R. “Foreword Finding Balance in the Fight against Gun Violence.” The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics : A Journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2023, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10209968/. 

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“Bondi v. VanDerStok.” Oyez, www.oyez.org/cases/2024/23-852. Accessed 17 Sept. 2025.