March 27, 2025 

All Firearm Deaths Table One displays the number of all firearm deaths among Alachua County residents in 2023 by age and type. There is at least one error in the source data so the numbers in the table do not tally as expected.  Three quarters of deaths were due to suicide and 20% were due to homicides. The number of homicides was highest among 15-34 year olds and suicides are highest among those between 35-64 and high among those who are 65 and older. The numbers of homicides and suicides in 2023 are different than 2022 when there were the same number of deaths but 15 were from homicides and 24 were from suicide.

Figure One displays the rates of firearm deaths for the state and county over the last 19 years. The state rate of firearm deaths steadily increased from 10.0/100,000 in 2005 to 14.0 in 2022 but in 2023 dropped to 13.4.  Because of small numbers, the rates in Alachua County vary annually but recently seem to be trending upward. The total firearm death rate went from 7.5 in 2019 to 16.1 in 2021. It dropped a little in 2022 but was 13.8 in 2023. We need to track the rate over time but  has increased in the last four years. 

Suicide The most common cause of firearm mortality in Florida and Alachua County is suicide. Figure Two displays age-adjusted suicide rates for the last 19 years and shows the state rate has increased from 6.0 /100,000 in 2005 to 7.9 in 2023. The county rate has vacillated but has almost doubled in the last four years when it went from 5.3 in 2019 to 10.5 in 2023. The number of suicide deaths in 2019 was 13 and increased to 30 in 2023. The increase in suicides is the driver of increased rates of firearm fatalities in Alachua County.

White residents are more likely to commit firearm suicide than Black residents, although in recent years firearm deaths have also increased among Black residents. In 2023 the rate of firearm suicide among Whites was 12.1/100,000 and among Blacks was 4.9/100,000. In 2023 twenty-five White residents shot themselves to death compared to three  Black residents. Males are more likely to commit firearm suicide. Between 2021 and 2023 when the rate went up among men to 20.2 it decreased to 1.9 among women. The highest number of suicides was among people 35 to 64 followed closely by those who were 65 and older.

Homicides Death from homicides is the second most common cause of firearm death. Age-adjusted rates for Alachua County and the state for the last 19 years are shown in Figure Three. Over the last decade the state rate was slowly increasing until it reached a high of 6.3 in 2020 but has decreased during the last three years.  The homicide rate for Alachua has varied. From 2019 to 2021 there was a precipitous increase from 2.2 to 9.9. Since then, it has dropped dramatically to 2.6 in 2023.  The year 2021 was an outlier during which there were 25 homicides, the highest number in almost 2 decades. Hopefully, the recent decline represents a trend reflecting the work of local law enforcement and community partners.

Black residents are more likely to experience death from firearm homicide than White residents. For example, in 2021, when the rate was especially high, the rate among Blacks was 25.5 and among Whites was 4.4. In 2023 when the rate was low in both races it was 11.1 among Blacks and 0.5 among Whites. Females are less likely to be killed in a firearm homicide than males. For example, in 2023 the rate among males was 4.7 and among females it was 0.6.  The highest number of homicides in 2023 was among people 15-34.

Between 2004-2023 there have been a total of 6 unintentional firearm deaths and never more than one a year.

The data on injuries from firearms shown in Tables Two and Three are based on information entered into hospital data bases at the time the patient is seen. The reporting is divided into those severe enough to require admission to the hospital and those that can be treated in the emergency room (ER).  The CHARTS data (source) was collapsed into fewer age categories to make these tables more manageable.  The numbers were small in many of the cells.  When the actual number was  0-4 the number in CHARTS was “suppressed” and shown as <5. When multiple cells of <5 in the source data were combined, the total is shown in these tables as Unknown (UK). If cells that had a number were combine with one or more cells of  <5 the number is displayed as “> the actual numbers”.  Some cells were not completely visible and shown as NA or with a ?. Because the data are incomplete the total in the tables do not always tally.

Injuries Requiring Hospitalization  Firearm injuries requiring hospitalizations of Alachua County residents was below the state rate until 2021 when the Alachua rate increased markedly. It decreased in 2022 and 2023 but remains higher than it was before 2020. 

Table Two shows the number of people whose firearm injury was severe enough to require hospitalization by type and age.  In 2023, 31 people were hospitalized with a firearm injury. About 55% were due to assaults and 42% were categorized as unintentional.  The ages most likely to suffer firearm injury requiring hospitalization were between 15 and 34 years.

The rate of firearm injuries needing hospitalization of Alachua County residents has increased since 2020. Firearm injuries requiring hospitalization are more common among Black residents than White residents. The disparity has been increasing since 2019 and in 2023 the rate among Black residents was 38.4  and among Whites was 2.4. The highest number of injuries was among people who were between 15-34 years old.

Firearm Injuries Seen in ER The Alachua County  rates of firearm injuries treated in the ER had been below the state rate for many years, but in 2016 increased dramatically until 2021 when 71 people were treated in the ER for firearm injury.  The rate began a decline which has continued until 2023 when it is again below the state rate.  But the rate of ER treatment of firearm injuries remains higher than it was during the prior decade.  

Table Three shows that in 2023, 48 people were treated in the ER for injuries due to firearms. Unfortunately, the on-line data were incomplete. The majority of injuries treated in the ER were classified as unintentional and among people between ages of 15 and 34.

Black residents are more likely to receive care in ER for firearm injuries than White residents and the difference between the races has been increasing.  In 2023, the rate among Black residents was 47.4 and was 5.2 among Whites. The largest number of those treated in the ER for gun violence was among those between 15-34.  The rate of firearm injuries treated in the ER has increased since 2019.

Summary Injuries  In 2023 there were 48 visits to the ER and 31 hospital admissions for a total of 79 firearm injuries. So, there  were almost twice as many firearm injuries as fatalities. The incidence of firearm injuries requiring treatment among Alachua County residents in the ER began increasing in 2019 and those requiring hospital admission began increasing in 2020. The rate of firearm injury was higher among Black residents than Whites, more common among males and those who are between 15-34 years of age.

Table Five displays data supplied by GPD for the first 11 months of 2024. It shows 38 people were injured, seven  of which were recorded as accidental. There were  seven homicides and 12 suicides. But there were no homicides July through November.

The Public Records Supervisor of Alachua County Sheriff’s office sent an email response to the author’s request for information on gun violence in Alachua County.

The report included events between January 1 and August 31 of 2024 and reports

• Shots fired/Armed Dist* = 60
• Shootings = 6 (4 were accidental)
• Homicides/Att. homicides = 4
• Suicides** = 3
• Stolen firearms-61

** assessed prior to ME investigation and subject to change

• In 2023 there were 40 resident firearm deaths. 
  • About 75% of the deaths were suicides and about 21% were homicides. There were 0 unintentional deaths reported.(The source data contain an error, so the percents are approximate.)
• The number of firearm deaths in Alachua County are low, so short term trends are difficult to track but in recent years the rate has been increasing.
  • The recent increase has been due to suicides
  • Homicides have been decreasing
• Firearm suicides
  • Have been increasing since 2019
  • Are most common among White residents
  • Are most common among men
  • Are more common among people who are older than 35.
• Homicides by firearms
  • Reached a high in 2021 but have decreased in the last two years
  • Decreased from 15 in 2022 to eight in 2023
  • Are more common among Black residents
  • Are more common among men
  • Are more common among people aged 25-34 years old
• Most homicide deaths in Gainesville occur in District One

• There were 79 firearm injuries reported by hospitals in 2023
• There were about twice as many injuries as deaths
• The number of firearm injuries has been increasing in the last few years
• Most people who attempt suicide using a firearm are successful and are rarely treated for injuries
• In 2023 there were 31 firearm injuries requiring hospitalization
  • 17 resulted from an assault
  • 13 were categorized as unintentional
• In 2023 there were 48 firearm injuries treated in the ER
  • 8 resulted from an assault  
  • >27 were categorized as unintentional
• Firearm injuries are mor likely to occur among residents who are
  • 15-34 years old
  •  Black 
  • Male

In 2023 the use of a firearm was the most common way Alachua County residents chose to kill themselves. Of the 44 suicides committed, 30 were by firearm. For most of the last 20 years the rate of firearm suicide in Alachua County was stable and lower than the state rate. But as shown in Figure Two, since 2019 firearm suicide rates in Alachua County have been increasing.

Although the rate of suicide by firearm has been increasing in America since 1999, the increase has been only in states, like Florida, which have weak gun laws. In the last five years states with the strongest gun safety laws have experienced reduced rates of suicides and those with the weakest laws have increased rates. Overall states with the strongest gun safety laws have much lower rates of suicides. (Fingar) Rates of firearm suicides in states with the highest rates of gun ownership are 3.7 times higher for men and 7.9 times higher for women, compared with states with the lowest gun ownership—though the rates of non-firearm suicides are about the same. (Drexler)

Recent data for Alachua County residents show the incidence of firearm suicide is higher among Whites than Blacks and higher among males than females. People older than 35 are more likely to commit firearm suicide. Although, as shown in Table Six below in the last nine years there were 20 suicides among young people between 10 and 24.  National data show residents of rural areas are more likely to die by firearm suicide, perhaps because they are more likely to own guns. (Drexler) Veterans are 150% more likely to die by firearm suicide and the risk is not limited to those who served in combat. (AFSP)

Risk factors for firearm suicide include mental health conditions like depression and substance use disorder, chronic pain and traumatic head injuries, short term stress and historical factors such as being abused as a child.  AFSP.

People contemplating suicide will often evidence warning signs. For example, they may talk about killing themselves, express hopelessness or feeling unbearable pain. They may increase use of alcohol/other drugs or withdraw from  usual activities. (AFSP)

Warning signs for Veterans include cleaning a souvenir weapon, visiting graveyards, obsession with news coverage of the war, wearing  their uniform off duty, being overprotective of children, standing guard of the house, obsessively locking doors and windows, defensive speech: “You wouldn’t understand”, avoiding eye contact (AFSP)

The most important risk factor for firearm suicide is the presence of a firearm in the home.  Research suggests that most people considering suicide who don't have easy access to a firearm will not kill themselves. (AFSP) “Though it may seem like a small barrier, securing your guns with a simple lock puts space between the thought and the trigger”. (VA)

Firearm suicide is preventable.  One of the best methods is limiting access. If a person stores their firearm in the home, it should be unloaded and locked. Ammunition should be locked and stored separately. If someone in the home is at risk for suicide the key or lock combination should not be accessible to that person. “Access to a gun in the home increases the odds of suicide more than threefold”. (EFSGV) An effective  way to prevent suicide is to move weapons out of the house to another location. Some gun stores will offer firearm storage as a prevention strategy.

Unintentional firearm death among  American children under 19 is frequent and of  concern. The children at highest risk for unintended firearm death are between 10 and 19. (CDC3) The most common cause of unintentional death is children who are playing with a gun or handing a gun thought to be unloaded. (Bullet Points)About half of all unintentional gun deaths are caused by another person pulling the trigger. (EFSGV)

In order to get a better picture of unintended deaths among youth in Alachua County nine years of data on firearm death by age were reviewed. Between 2015-2023 there were approximately 274 firearm deaths in Alachua County. Table Six displays the detail on residents younger than 25. During this period there were only two deaths categorized as unintentional among all ages. One was in child between ages one and four and the other was of a youth between 20-24. There was one infant death classified as a homicide. Of the seven deaths among 10-14 year olds, six were classified as homicides and one as a suicide. Among the 11 deaths among 15-19 year olds eight were classified as homicides and three as suicides. Among 20-24 year olds there were 18 homicides, 16 suicides and one unintentional death. As mentioned above in 19 years only 6 firearm deaths were categorized as unintentional.

Compared to national data Alachua County youth have experienced few unintentional firearm deaths. Either there is some anomaly in the data or ideally, the parents of young children are doing a good job of keeping guns stored safely. The number of suicides among young people is  concerning.

Unintentional Firearm Injuries  - About 37% of firearm injuries in national studies are classified as Unintentional. The accuracy of this number is uncertain as people may by trying to avoid law enforcement involvement by misrepresenting injuries that would be more accurately represented as assaults. (EFGSV)  

Unintentional firearm injuries occur more frequently in homes where guns are not stored properly. (CDC2, Bullet Points, EFSGV) Children and adults who live in states with lax gun laws are more likely to experience unintentional gun injuries and death. (EFSGV)

A study among gun owing families found 40% of parents incorrectly believed that their child didn’t know where the gun was kept and 20% incorrectly believed that the child had never handled the weapon without their consent. (Bullet Points). Research suggests that that school-based and public education campaigns targeting children do not reduce their unsupervised handling of firearms. (BulletPoints) Research does show that counseling by healthcare providers will improve gun storage practices. (EFSGV)

Data on non-fatal firearm injuries in Alachua County are incomplete but suggest among people of all ages about 38% were categorized as unintentional. This is more in line with national data.

As discussed above, firearm deaths seem to be trending upward in Alachua County.  Government and Community groups have been working collaboratively to reduce crime related gun violence. (Johnson) The data on homicides suggest these efforts have been effective. This emphasis on reducing homicides is necessary but not sufficient to reduce fatal firearm deaths. 

More people are killed by their own hand than during criminal activity and recently the number of suicides has increased . The data on suicides show an unsettling number among young people. Data on injuries are relatively incomplete and include some errors so are difficult to interpret.

The best strategies for reducing firearm deaths and injuries are gun safety laws and safe storage of firearms.

AFSP - American Society for Suicide Prevention. An Introduction to Firearms and Suicide Prevention https://afsp.org/an-introduction-to-firearms-and-suicide-prevention/Acce... November 22, 2024

Bullet Points.  Unintentional Firearm Injury https://www.bulletpointsproject.org/unintentional-injury/ Accessed November 2024

CAP20 -Center for American Progress. Early 2024 Data Show Promising Signs of Another Historic Decline in Gun Violence CAP 20 June 11, 2024 https://www.americanprogress.org/article/early-2024-data-show-promising-...

CDC1-Centers for Disease Control. Fast Facts: Firearm Injury and Death. July 5, 2024 https://www.cdc.gov/firearm-violence/data-research/facts-stats/index.html

CDC2-Centers for Disease Control. Firearm Injury and Death Prevention. Firearm Suicide Trends. August 19, 2024 https://www.cdc.gov/firearm-violence/php/data-trends/firearm-suicide-dat...

CDC3- Centers for Disease Control.  Unintentional Firearm Injury Deaths Among Children and Adolescents Aged 0–17 Years — National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2003–2021 Accessed Dec 15, 2023 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7250a1.htm

Drexler, M. Guns & Suicide The Hidden Toll. Magazine of the Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health. Accessed November 20, 2024 https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/guns-suicide/

EFSGV-Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence.  Prevent Firearm Suicide https://preventfirearmsuicide.efsgv.org Accessed Nov 22, 2024

EFSGV The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence.  Unintentional Shootings Accessed Dec 20,2024 https://efsgv.org/learn/type-of-gun-violence/unintentional-shootings/

Fingar, K et al. Gun Safety. Everytown Research and Policy September 29, 2023 https://everytownresearch.org/two-decades-of-suicide-prevention-laws-les...

Florida CHARTS https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/charts/default.aspx

GPD Handout given to Mothers Against Violence

Johnson, S. Gainesville, law enforcement unveils gun violence responses. Main Street Daily News May 3, 2024 https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/govt-politics/gnv-law-enforcement-gun-violence-responses

VA- US Department of Veterans Affairs. REACH-Keep it Secure https://www.va.gov/reach/lethal-means/