Tennessee Gun Violence Stats

• 3rd for violent crime, according to the FBI Unified Crime Report (UCR)

  • Tennessee’s crime rate was 68% higher than the U.S. average. according to the Council of State Government Justice Center​

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• 7th for overall firearm fatalities for all ages, according CDC Fatal Injury reports

  • Firearm fatalities include all forms of fatal gun violence, from homicides, suicides, unintentional shootings, and fatal shootings of unknown intent

  • Between 2013 and 2023, the rate of overall firearm fatalities increased 41 percent​

  • On average, 4.3 Tennesseans die every day from gun violence, or one person every 5.6 hours

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• 7th for overall firearm fatalities for children, ages 0-17, according CDC Fatal Injury reports

  • Between 2013 and 2023​, the rate of overall firearm fatalities for children, ages 0-17 increased 128 percent

  • On average, 8 Tennessee kids are killed with a gun every month

  • Guns are the leading cause of death for Tennessee children

 

• 6th for firearm homicides for all ages, according CDC Fatal Injury reports

  • Firearm homicides include any murder committed with a gun

  • Between 2013 and 2023, the rate of firearm homicides for all ages increased 97 percent​

  • On average, there are 1.8 homicides every day in Tennessee

  • In 2013, 309 Tennesseans were killed with a gun vs 667 in 2023

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• 8th for firearm homicides for children, ages 0-17, according CDC Fatal Injury reports

  • Between 2013 and 2023, the rate of firearm homicides for children, ages 0-17, increased 141 percent​

  • On average, five Tennessee kids are murdered every month

  • In 2013, 24 Tennessee children were murdered vs 61 in 2023

  • Guns are the leading cause of death for Tennessee children

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• 11th for firearm suicides for all ages, according CDC Fatal Injury reports

  • Firearm suicides include any completed suicide committed with a gun

  • Between 2013 and 2023, the rate of firearm suicides for all ages increased 18 percent

  • 69 percent of all suicides in Tennessee are firearm suicides

  • On average, 2.4 Tennesseans use a gun to take their own life every day

  • 2023 saw a record number (878) of firearm suicides

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• 8th for firearm suicides for children, ages 0-17, according CDC Fatal Injury reports

  • Between 2013 and 2023, the rate of firearm suicide for children, ages 0-17, increased 115% ​

  • 57 percent of all children who took their own life did so with a gun

  • Most children who use a gun to commit suicide use a gun they have access to in their home​​​

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• 7th for Black homicide victimization, according to the Violence Policy Center

  • 47 of the Black homicide victims, or 9.3 percent, were under the age of 18​

  • 92 percent of the Black homicide victims were murdered with a gun

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• 5th for unintentional shootings involving children in 2024, according to the #NotAnAccident index

  • In 2024, Tennessee tied Pennsylvania for the 5th highest number of accidental shootings (17) involving children with access to unsecured guns. 

  • Of the 17 unintentional shootings, nine resulted in deaths and eight resulted in injuries. Six of the deaths involved children under the age of six.

  • As of October 7th, 2025, there have already been 18 unintentional shootings involving Tennessee kids with access to unsecured guns, resulting eight injuries.