Gun violence in Minnesota: What the numbers show

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On Sept. 4, two students and two teachers were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga. After every mass shooting, we hear the same refrain: “We never thought it could happen here.” And while Winder, Ga., may feel half the world away, new data show that gun violence is not an abstract issue that happens somewhere else. In fact, in Minnesota, it’s a growing reality that touches every corner of our state, affecting our communities, schools, public spaces and mental health.

We are Minnesota-based professors who study gun violence. Our recent representative survey of over 1,000 Minnesotans aged 19 to 92 reveals just how deeply gun violence has touched our state. We asked them about their experiences with guns in their lifetimes. One in five Minnesotans reported being threatened with a gun and for 13% of Minnesotans, witnessing someone being shot is a traumatic memory they carry. Seven and a half percent have been directly shot at. And tragically, 4% of Minnesotans have been shot and injured. These numbers are more than statistics — they represent our friends, families and neighbors.

The impact is even more profound when we look at specific groups. Black Minnesotans are far more likely to experience gun violence. For example, 20% of Black Minnesotans in our survey self-reported having been shot at, compared with just 6% of white Minnesotans. Similarly, 14% of Black Minnesotans reported being present at a mass shooting where at least four people were shot, while only 3% of white Minnesotans say the same. These disparities speak to the urgent need for addressing gun violence as not just a public safety issue, but a matter of racial and social equity.

These issues are not confined to adults. Younger generations are growing up in a world where exposure to gun violence is more common than we might want to believe. Nine percent of Gen Z Minnesotans (born after 1997) have been present at the scene of a mass shooting and 2% have been injured in one. For millennials (born between 1981 and 1996), that number is 7%, with 3% injured. The future leaders of our state are living in a constant state of heightened awareness about their personal safety.

The mental health toll of this violence is staggering. Nearly half of all Minnesotans — 47% — are afraid of being shot in a public place. And of those who have been at the scene of a mass shooting, 90% report suffering from anxiety, depression or PTSD. Even those who weren’t physically present but live in a community that experienced a mass shooting report significant mental health challenges. The everyday fear and emotional trauma that permeates the lives of so many Minnesotans is something we can’t ignore. In a state where the debate over gun control has been front and center, this data takes on new urgency. This isn’t about politics — it’s about the safety and well-being of our communities.

Our new data make one thing clear: gun violence is not someone else’s problem — it’s all of ours. It affects people in rural communities, in cities and in suburbs. It crosses generational lines and racial boundaries. And while the solutions are complex, there are immediate steps we can take to address this crisis. For one, safe storage practices could help prevent many tragedies. While nearly one-third of Minnesotans reported owning a gun, only two-thirds of Minnesota gun owners reported consistently storing their firearms safely. The data show safe storage counseling, along with providing locks and safes, can be an effective preventative measure to reduce accidents and thefts that put guns in the hands of children or prohibited persons.

Our data further highlight the need for mental health resources, particularly for those who have been exposed to or affected by gun violence. Preventative mental health services, crisis intervention and ongoing support for those who’ve been impacted by gun violence are essential for Minnesota’s recovery and resilience.

At the heart of this crisis is a collective call for action. Gun violence has touched far too many lives in Minnesota, and its ripple effects — on safety, mental health and community well-being — are undeniable. The data are stark, but also offer a path forward. Addressing this issue requires both individual responsibility and broader societal commitment.

On Nov. 1, we’ll come together for the Minnesota Gun Violence Research Summit at Hamline University to discuss this research and explore nonpartisan, data-driven solutions to make our communities safer. We can no longer afford to ignore the reality of gun violence in our state. We must face it, and we must act.

Jillian Peterson is a professor of criminology and criminal justice and executive director of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University. James Densley is deputy director, and is a professor and department chair of criminology and criminal justice at Metropolitan State University.