First, an acknowledgment.

The statistics included in this blog post may be disturbing. However, as difficult as it can be, analyzing data on gun violence can provide powerful insights that can inspire real-world solutions. That’s our goal in this blog post—thank you for reading.

Between 2014 and 2024, 48 mass shootings claimed 491 lives.

Every one of those people meant something to someone—or many someones. 

They were children.
They were parents.
They were grandparents.
They were siblings.
They were partners.
They were best friends. 

For their loved ones and communities, life will never be the same. 

Nor will it be for the 1,289 others who were injured during these shootings.  

Yes, the statistics on gun violence in the United States are sobering. 

However, we believe examining historical data critically now could potentially save lives in the future. We’re working toward that goal in this blog post. 

Below, we’ll break down the data on gun violence over the past decade. Then, we’ll use the facts and figures to discuss potential, real-world solutions—and share ways for you to get proactive about preventing gun violence in your community starting today.

Looking Back at A Decade of Gun Violence 

The chart below from the Gun Violence Research Center details state-by-state statistics on mass shootings over the past decade: 

As you can see, about half of all U.S. states have been impacted by mass shootings, resulting in hundreds of deaths and many more injuries. 

But as staggering as these numbers are, they don’t fully reflect the impact of these events. That brings us to an important reminder…

Ripple Effects That Extend Beyond the Numbers

The chart above displays the facts. But it doesn’t adequately encompass the wider-reaching, intangible effects of mass shootings in the U.S. 

In addition to the reported victims, countless others have been wounded as a result of these events.

For example, consider those adjacent to the events—bystanders and first responders.

These individuals weren’t in high-risk zones or war-torn areas. They were in familiar places doing everyday things.

Further, consider the impacted families and communities. 

These individuals carry mental scars. They may be harder to see than physical injuries, but they’re often just as hard to heal. 

Considering this greater context, it’s not possible to truly calculate the human impact of these events on a spreadsheet. 

Having made that important acknowledgment, let’s continue analyzing the data and key takeaways. 

Key Takeaways: Gun Violence 2014–2024

Below, we’ll delve into some of the lessons we can learn from the data. Then, we’ll dive into how to potentially leverage them into proactive solutions for the future.

The Most Impacted States

Some states appear repeatedly in the data:

Together, these four states account for more than half of the total fatalities and more than three-fourths of the injuries resulting from mass shootings. 

However, this only tells us part of the story—for greater context, let’s look at the types of locations where these events took place.

Where These Incidents Take Place

Nationwide, the most impacted location types were:

As you can see, gun violence doesn’t just happen in obscure or isolated locations. It happens in everyday places that most of us frequent. 

Sadly, these are often places where people don’t “expect” bad things to happen—as a result, they are inadequately monitored and safeguarded. 

With this context, let’s continue examining the broader patterns behind these incidents in hopes of guiding smarter prevention.

Why It Happens: Patterns and Motives

Data indicates that incidents stem from a variety of causes:

While many catalysts precede gun violence, one takeaway is clear: When a firearm is brandished in public, things can escalate quickly. That means there’s an extremely narrow window to act. 

Being able to detect that moment and verify it quickly can help prevent tragedy before it escalates.

Who’s Behind the Violence?

The most prominent shooter profiles show troubling consistency:

Many shooters are familiar with the environment they target—whether it’s a school, a workplace, or another public space. This is why it’s critical to have tools in place that can spot visible weapons the moment they appear and trigger a rapid response.

How These Events End

Law enforcement data demonstrates that the three most common outcomes from active shooter events are as follows:

As you can see, in over 50% of cases, the shooter is able to get away from the scene of the crime. This underscores the need for a faster response—now, let’s talk about how to work toward that.

What We Can Learn From This Data 

We’ve looked at where attacks happen, how they’re carried out, and the sequence of events. 

The common thread between these figures? The urgent need for rapid response. A crisis can escalate faster than most traditional security measures. 

Yet as it stands, most security systems are reactive: the alarm bell is only raised once shots have been fired. 

This begs the question: What if you could react at first sight—not first shot?

When facing threats, seconds, not minutes, can make a difference.

That window between recognition and response is critical. This is where ZeroEyes works to make a difference.

ZeroEyes’ human-verified detection system helps identify visible gun threats and send alerts—often in just 3–5 seconds—so first responders can react faster and with more accuracy and efficiency. 

Our platform stands at the intersection of technology and tactical expertise—one of the many reasons why ZeroEyes is the first gun detection platform to earn the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s SAFETY Act Designation as an effective measure against active shooter situations. 

And if you haven’t already, we invite you to check out our video detailing U.S. Mass Shooting Statistics 2014–2024.

Want to learn more? To see how ZeroEyes can help your organization identify and respond to threats faster, book a free demonstration.