Pew Research: What the Data Says About Gun Deaths in the U.S.

Last year, 44,447 Americans lost their lives to gun-related injuries, a staggering toll that translates to dozens of empty chairs at kitchen tables every single day. While the total has dipped slightly from recent peaks, it remains the fifth-highest number on record since 1968, cementing the reality that gun violence is a persistent national epidemic.

While mass shootings often dominate the headlines, a supermajority of these deaths—62%—are suicides. This means over 27,000 people in moments of crisis had easy access to a lethal tool that turned a temporary struggle into a permanent tragedy. Furthermore, 76% of all homicides in our country now involve a firearm. These are not just statistics; they are neighbors, children, and friends whose lives were cut short by a preventable cycle of violence.

The data shows a massive divide in safety based on where you live. Residents in states like Mississippi and New Mexico face gun death rates nearly seven times higher than those in Hawaii or New Jersey. This patchwork of protection is failing us. When tens of thousands of people die in a single year, the system is not working—it is breaking under the weight of political inaction and the refusal to prioritize human life over industry profits.

Leading Ladies Vote stands for common-sense gun laws that prioritize safety for every community. We believe in an America where every person is safe in their home, their school, and their place of worship. We must use our power at the ballot box to demand a future where peace of mind is a right, not a luxury of your zip code.

🔗 Read the full Pew Research report: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/04/28/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-us/