Gun violence in America is not random — it is the predictable result of systemic failures, cultural choices, and political inaction. In 2023 alone, more than 46,000 Americans lost their lives to firearms. Behind that staggering number lie two overlapping crises: suicides, which make up nearly 60% of gun deaths and disproportionately affect older white men in rural communities, and homicides, which devastate young Black men in underinvested urban neighborhoods. While mass shootings capture headlines, they represent less than 2% of all firearm deaths; the daily toll of suicides, domestic violence, and community shootings is far greater.

This post unpacks who is most affected, the root causes driving the violence, and why America’s rates are more than 25 times higher than those of peer democracies. We also confront myths — from blaming mental health to the “good guy with a gun” narrative — and highlight evidence-based solutions that save lives. Gun violence isn’t fate. It’s a policy choice. And that means it’s a crisis, and we have the power to change.