Since the beginning of 2024, the United States has recorded at least 83 school shootings, with 27 occurring at universities and 56 at primary and secondary schools. These incidents have resulted in 38 deaths and over 115 injuries.
According to an analysis by CNN, which includes all incidents involving firearms at educational facilities, as long as at least one person (excluding the shooter) is injured, school shootings significantly decreased during the first year of the pandemic, when schools were closed.
However, since the return to normalcy, school shootings have risen sharply, setting records in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
This year alone, there have been at least 83 incidents, but 2022 stands out as one of the deadliest years, with 46 fatalities. That year, the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, took place, leaving 19 students and two educators dead, while over a dozen others were injured.
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Comparison of School Shootings in 2024 with Previous Years
According to CNN’s analysis, since 2008, several states in the southern United States have had the highest rates of school shootings relative to their population.
Washington, D.C. ranks at the top with the highest rate, recording 6 total shootings, nearly one per 100,000 people. In terms of the total number of incidents, Texas stands out as the state with the most shootings, with 61 incidents.
On the other hand, only five states (Montana, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island) have not reported any school shootings during this period.
How Many Mass Shootings Have Occurred in the U.S. in 2024?
As of today, more than 385 mass shootings have been recorded in the United States in 2024, according to the Gun Violence Archive. This organization defines a mass shooting as an incident where at least four people are injured or killed. The statistics include incidents that occur both in homes and public spaces.
Over the past four years, the country has experienced more than 600 mass shootings per year, averaging nearly two incidents per day.
The deadliest mass shooting occurred in Las Vegas in 2017, where more than 50 people were killed and approximately 500 were injured. However, most mass shootings result in fewer than 10 fatalities.
How Many Guns Are There in the U.S.?
In recent years, gun ownership in the United States has risen significantly. While it is difficult to precisely determine the number of privately owned firearms, it is estimated that there are around 390 million guns circulating in the country.
Gun Control in the United States
A survey found that 57% of Americans support stricter gun laws, 32% believe laws should remain the same, and only 10% think they should be less strict.
