There is no question that lives taken by gun violence are the most costly part of this public health crisis. Every day, roughly 300 people join the toll of those wounded or killed with guns. We’ve recently won some major victories in Congress and statehouses across the country to stop this violence, but some of our lawmakers remain unfazed, unwilling to act.

So we’re speaking their language. We’ve broken down how much money gun violence is costing Americans.

Gun violence costs our nation $557 billion every year.

This new research gives us yet another reason for why our lawmakers can’t look away from this crisis—and we want to show them just how far the cost of inaction goes. Let’s turn up the heat on our lawmakers: Help spread the word about the devastating (and costly!) impact gun violence is having on our communities.

Earlier this week, I testified at two congressional hearings to show what this research makes clear: Too often survivors are tasked with dealing with the physical, mental, emotional, and financial cost of gun violence. But the price of inaction on gun safety exacts a steep economic cost on all taxpayers and our economy as well.

The $557 billion our country spends every year includes immediate costs starting at the scene of a shooting; later costs such as long-term physical and mental health care, forgone earnings, and criminal justice costs; and cost estimates of quality-of-life lost.

Our research also made something else clear: States with strong gun safety laws have a lower cost for gun violence per year compared to states with lax gun laws.

That means inaction is actively making this crisis even more expensive. Lawmakers beholden to the gun industry are depriving us of resources that we could invest in education, workforce development, and building healthier, safer, more sustainable communities.

We need to make sure we have the facts straight so we can make a case for action that no one can look away from.

Thank you for being a part of this movement.

Sarah Burd-Sharps
She/Her/Hers
Senior Director of Research
Everytown for Gun Safety