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Statistics -

Gun violence tragically remains a pervasive issue in the United States. In 2021, a staggering 48,830 individuals lost their lives due to gun-related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alarmingly, 43% of these deaths, amounting to 20,958, were classified as homicides.

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Global comparison -

The US experiences a starkly higher rate of firearm-related homicides compared to many other developed nations, including Canada, Australia, England, and Wales. Tragically, data reveals that over 50 individuals lose their lives each day due to gun violence within the country.

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What is a mass shooting? -

The term "mass shooting" lacks a single, universally accepted definition. Criteria like the number of victims and the circumstances of the incident can vary significantly across different organizations tracking this data. Despite this lack of consensus, available data strongly suggests that these violent events are on the rise.

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FBI definition -

The FBI tracks "active shooter incidents," which they define as situations where one or more individuals actively attempt to kill or injure people in a populated area. In 2021, the FBI recorded 103 fatalities–excluding the shooters themselves–from these types of incidents.

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Other perspectives -

The Gun Violence Archive, an online database that tracks gun violence incidents across the US, defines mass shootings as events where four or more individuals are shot (excluding the shooters), regardless of whether fatalities occur. Based on this definition, a tragic 706 lives were lost to these incidents during 2021.

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On the rise -

FBI data reveals a troubling escalation in active shooter incidents over the past two decades. While only three such incidents were recorded in 2000, this number jumped to 61 by 2021, highlighting a significant and concerning trend.

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Mass shooting occurrence -

The Gun Violence Archive reports that the US experienced over 488 mass shootings in 2024. These figures encompass incidents occurring in both private residences and public spaces.

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School shootings -

The alarming rise in school shootings is underscored by data from the national K-12 School Shooting Database, meticulously maintained by David Riedman, professor at Idaho State University and chief data officer for Merrill Herzog (a risk management and crisis response firm).

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School shootings -

In 2024, there were 267 victims of school shootings, a sobering increase from the 249 recorded in 2023. This figure encompasses both those killed and injured.

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School shootings -

Riedman's comprehensive database reveals an alarming long-term trend. Between 1966 and December 16, 2024, there were close to three thousand school shooting incidents, resulting in 2,372 wounded victims and 854 fatalities. The total death toll, including shooters, reached 1,108.

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Workplace shootings -

Beyond the tragic toll of school mass shootings, workplace violence has emerged as a significant and often overlooked public health crisis. Recent data paints a grim picture, revealing disturbing figures in workplace shootings across the nation.

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Alarming numbers -

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 458 workers lost their lives to workplace violence in 2023 alone. This grim statistic translates to nearly nine workplace homicides per week.

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Higher than school shootings -

The report also points to 2,762 workplace homicides between 2018 and 2023, which is a staggering 223.42% higher than the number of school shooting deaths recorded between 1966 and 2024 (854).

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In the news -

The shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024, has brought renewed attention to the issue of workplace homicides. Thompson's death, as well as the shooter's alleged motives, has dominated headlines, prompting widespread discussion about workplace safety and security.

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Recent case -

The day after Easter, April 10, 2023, a horrific shooting unfolded at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky. As employees gathered for meetings and shared stories about the holiday, they were met with the unimaginable: a colleague armed with an AR-15-style rifle in the office.

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Tragic incident -

The gunman, identified as bank employee Connor Sturgeon, opened fire, tragically taking the lives of five employees and injuring eight others. The horrific rampage came to an end when responding Louisville police officers fatally shot Sturgeon.

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Not enough attention -

Beyond these high-profile cases, countless workplace murders go largely unnoticed. While mass shootings like the one at Old National Bank garner national attention for a few days, many other incidents involving a single victim receive little to no media coverage beyond local news reports, if even that.

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Lack of awareness -

Most workers are unaware of the high number of workplace homicides, leading to complacency about safety. This lack of awareness also contributes to companies neglecting to implement necessary safety measures.

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Safety is overlooked -

Dana Mitchell, one of Old National Bank's employees injured in the shooting, admitted that she never considered workplace safety a serious issue. She reported having the required active shooter training video since it was mandatory. However, she didn't believe such a tragedy could happen at her workplace.

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Who are the victims? -

The victims of workplace homicides come from all walks of life, including educators tragically killed in school shootings and law enforcement officers in the line of duty. However, a significant number of these tragedies occur in seemingly safe professions, such as retail.

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Who are the victims? -

According to the report, of the 306 retail employees who lost their lives on the job, 94 were murdered. This is higher than the 93 murders that occurred within the "protective services" sector, which includes police and security guards.

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Who are the victims? -

The hospitality and food services industries also face significant risks. The report reveals that 84 workers in these sectors died due to "violent acts," although this category unfortunately includes workers who took their own lives while on the job.

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Under the radar -

Despite the concerning statistics, a 2019 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association revealed a disconnect between the frequency of workplace homicides and public perception.

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Concerns -

Only about one-quarter of adults reported feeling stressed about the possibility of a mass shooting occurring at their workplace. In contrast, twice as many expressed anxiety about mass shootings in public spaces like parades, sporting events, malls, schools, and universities.

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Prone to shootings -

In contrast, the Violence Prevention Project, a National Institute of Justice-funded nonpartisan research center, found that workplaces, both current and former, are the most frequent sites for mass shootings. A staggering 30% of the project's database, encompassing 200 mass shootings since 1966, are classified as "workplace shooters."

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Root causes -

Workplace homicides often arise from personal grievances that spill over into the professional domain, according to Dr. James Dempsey, deputy director of the Violence Prevention Project. He explains that "for some perpetrators, workplaces represent symbols of authority or rejection, especially in cases of job loss or disciplinary action."

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Familiar environments -

Dr. Dempsey further emphasizes that humans are creatures of habit, and perpetrators often target familiar environments. "Familiarity breeds opportunity," he explains. When individuals are consumed by anger or desperation, they tend to act within the contexts they know best.

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Lack of training -

Jessica Martinez, Executive Director of the National Council on Occupational Safety and Health, pointedly observes, "The average third-grader receives more active shooter training than most workers."

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Security investments -

Since UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s death, heightened security measures have been implemented for high-level executives. However, Martinez emphasizes that "all workers deserve to come home at the end of the day, not just the CEOs."

Sources: (CNN) (BBC) (Pew Research Center) (K-12 School Shooting Database)

See also: The most dangerous cities in America

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